Tuesday, 21 February 2012

Fast tracking transport development

Transnet National Ports Authority Chief Executive - Tau Morwe addresses the Transport Forum held at the Port of Richards Bay

With continued growth and investment in the port system high on the agenda, investment will be spent on expansion rather than replacement. This was according to Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) Chief Executive, Tau Morwe, as he addressed over 140 stakeholders attending the Transport Forum at the Port of Richards Bay earlier this month. Conducting a series of visits to Transnet ports countrywide, it was the first visit by the Transport Forum to the Port of Richards Bay under the theme ‘Transnet Ports - Your Business Partner’.

Commencing his presentation with the white paper on National Commercial Ports Policy, Morwe said they were intent on ‘enhancing South Africa’s global competitiveness and facilitating the expansion of the economy through socially and environmentally sustainable port development’. ‘This would be done by a system of ports, seamlessly integrated in the logistics network that is jointly and individually self-sustainable through delivery of high levels of service and increasing efficiency for a growing customer base,’ said Morwe. He revised TNPA’s core functions, leading the discussion on the challenges and road ahead for the parastatal. ‘TNPA will stabilise current operations, redefine the future and facilitate growth.

‘The five major challenges identified to change the way that TNPA operates are: capital planning and execution, operational effectiveness and productivity, target volumes and customer satisfaction, financial sustainability and safety. ‘Performance targets will be set for all terminals, which will be included in agreements and licences,’ added Morwe. Discussing the future of TNPA, Morwe said they were looking at growth created by capital investment, a skilled workforce and operational efficiency improvements across all terminals.

Terminal Executive: Transnet Port Terminals (TPT), Victor Mkhize presented Transnet’s expansion plans, adding that R12.1bn would be spent to mitigate risks and improve operations at the Port of Richards Bay. ‘R33-billion in capital spend is being planned for the next seven years, of which R12.1bn is for Richards Bay,’ added Mkhize.