Requests for information on desalination plants

In response to the water crisis affecting some of the country’s port cities, Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the supply of desalinated water for its eight commercial seaports.

The RFI is intended to gauge market appetite to design, develop, finance, operate, maintain and transfer water desalination plants at the ports of Cape Town, Durban, East London, Mossel Bay, Ngqura, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay and Saldanha.

“With the increase in water scarcity and climate uncertainty, there is a need for TNPA to improve water resilience. A sustainable water source will ensure all our commercial sea ports have alternative water options for both operations and emergency purposes.” said Mishka Prinsloo, TNPA project manager.

TNPA ports consume about six million Kilolitres (KL) of municipal water per year, with an average of almost 500 000KL a month.

This is mainly due to TNPA clients using a significant amount of water for operational reasons. The RFI will assist TNPA to gather information on the available technologies and timelines to deliver desalination projects at its ports.

The RFI documents can be accessed from the National Treasury’s e-tender publication portal, https:// transnetetenders.azurewebsites.net/Home/ TenderDetails?Id=10146 and/or the Transnet website: www.etenders.gov.za/.

The RFI responses must be submitted to TNPA by no later than 12:00 on 7 October. All requests and queries for clarification of this RFI must be emailed to desalinationrfi@transnet.net.