$140-million to fund Cape Town water projects
The City of Cape Town has set aside $140-million to fund seven new water projects. Former executive mayor Patricia de Lille says the city has postponed non-water related projects to secure funds for the first phase of the water projects. First-phase projects earmarked for these funds are desalination plants at Monwabisi, Strandfontein, the V&A Waterfront and Cape Town Harbour. The Atlantis and Cape Flats Aquifer projects and the Zandvliet water recycling project make up the first seven emergency water projects of this phase. The dam storage levels stand at 36,8% a present, and usable water at 26,8% of demand.
Eastern Cape housing development: Homes for 45 000
Plans are in motion for a $71-million integrated housing development on the outskirts of Despatch, Eastern Cape. The development will provide homes for nearly 45 000 residents over the next 15 years. The first phase of the government-backed project will generate nearly 10 000 direct and indirect job opportunities over five years. The national housing department is responsible for funding the project. In the first phase of the project, 1020 housing units will be developed alongside community and mixed-use facilities. These will include space for a mall, landscaped public spaces and community facilities. A total of 740 of the units built in phase one will be social housing apartments for rent while 100 units will form part of the finance linked individual subsidy program (FLISP). Phase two will include an additional 12 030 units, to reach completion in 15 years’ time.
$153-million AfDB loan for Namibian railway
The African Development Bank has approved a $153-million loan to the Namibian government to upgrade a 210 km stretch of railway. The AfDB will also finance the upgrade of a section of the road from Windhoek to its international airport. The upgrade of the railway between Walvis Bay and Kranzberg will include a direct link to Walvis Bay, and will speed the passage of goods to and from the port into Namibia and other SADC countries. The road to the airport will be a dual carriageway with two lanes in each direction, with the option for a third lane in future.
Rail and port project for Mozambique
A project to provide over 900 km of railway line from western Mozambique’s Tete Province to the Nacala Port, through Malawi, will also include the construction of a deep sea port and associated terminal infrastructure at Nacala. According to the African Development Bank AfDB), the project supports the goals of sustainable development in Africa: The rail link across Mozambique and Malawi, with a possible extension to Zambia, will help to open up markets for agricultural commodities. The rail link will increase coal exports by 40% in 2018. The AfDB will also invest $1-million to assist SMEs and develop agribusiness along the corridor in Malawi and Mozambique, allowing small business to benefit from the the port and rail link.
Port of Ngqura becomes petroleum hub
Progress has been made on the establishment of South Africa’s Port of Ngqura as a new petroleum trading hub for southern Africa, ahead of the planned decommissioning and rehabilitation of the existing liquid bulk facilities at the neighbouring port of Port Elizabeth. Construction of the new Oiltanking Grindrod Calulo (OTGC) tank farm and new main access road started in January 2018. Fabrication of the tanks and optional LPG bullets is scheduled to start in April 2018. The Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has completed the critical design work associated with the new tank farm infrastructure and constructed a new access road from the N2 highway to the 20 ha site where OTGC construct the new tank farm. A new port entrance plaza and pipeline servitude will be constructed to form the link between the new tank farm and the port of Ngqura. The TNPA is required to provide port infrastructure for the liquid bulk terminal to commence operations at the end of 2019.
Large-scale wind power for De Aar
The Longyuan Mulilo De Aar Wind Power Project in South Africa has been commissioned. It connects some 85 000 local residents to power. Situated in the Northern Cape Province, the plant has a generating capacity of 100 MW per annum. IOt was built by China Longyuan Power Group Corporation, and Mulilo Renewable Energy. In 2015, the Chinese firm won a contract to develop two wind farms. The 100 MW De Aar Phase I wind system and the 144 MW De Aar Phase II North district facility. Debt financing was provided by Nedbank’s capital division and the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa IDC. The project’s wind generation negates the burning of some 215 800 tonnes of standard coal and facilitates an emission reduction of 619 900 tonnes of carbon dioxide. In October 2017, the Loeriesfontein Wind Farm and the Khobab Wind Farm in the Northern Cape were officially connected to Eskom’s grid.
Liquid Bulk Terminal for Nelson Mandela Bay
Construction has started on Nelson Mandela Bay’s new Oiltanking Grindrod Calulo (OTGC) tank farm and a new main access road to the facility. Manufacture of the tanks and optional LPG bullets will start in April 2018. The Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has completed the design for the new tank farm infrastructure and constructed a new access road to the 20 ha site where OTGC will construct the new farm. A new port entrance plaza and pipeline servitude will form the link between the new tank farm and the port of Ngqura. TNPA has concluded an agreement with OTGC to plan, fund, construct, own, maintain and operate the new facility. It will provide port infrastructure for the liquid bulk terminal to commence operations at the end of 2019. Liquid bulk capacity will be increased from 2-million tonnes per annum for the immediate hinterland to 3-million tonnes per annum, once the new liquid bulk terminal is operational.
