A R1.2-million deal was signed between the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) and ALE Heavylift South Africa, a heavy transport and lifting services company, for the storage of abnormal cargo in the Coega Industrial Development Zone’s (IDZ) new lay-down area.
ALE Heavylift South Africa is now the first project tenant that will operate from and make use of the newly established R9 million laydown area.
The 12 hectare abnormal cargo storage site, located on the boundary between the Port of Ngqura and the Coega IDZ, will be used as a temporary storage site for wind turbines that will be transported to the Amakhala wind-farm project near Bedford.
“From this month (April) until November this year, nine vessels will offload 56 wind turbines at the Port of Ngqura and the Coega IDZ for the Amakhala Project located near Bedford in the Eastern Cape,” said Linda Sityoshwana, CDC’s trade solutions project manager.
The eight month contract has a R 1.2 million value for CDC.
“The first vessel docked at the Port of Ngqura on Wednesday, April 22 and the wind turbine components have already been stored at the lay-down area as from Thursday, April 23.
“ALE Heavylift South Africa will occupy two-hectares of land and will have an option to expand the land area with an additional 1.4 hectares at the peak of the project,” she said.
According Sityoshwana, skilled and unskilled labour will be sourced from the Eastern Cape and around 45 jobs will be created.
“ALE Heavylift South Africa is a major industry player and for this reason Coega is proud to be associated with the organisation. This signing confirms the Port of Ngqura and Coega IDZ as the ideal corridors for the transport of abnormal cargo”.
The company forms part of the Global ALE business with offices throughout South Africa and sub-Sahara Africa, and specialises in abnormal load engineering, and has the necessary project management and technical skills to offer clients a comprehensive turnkey solution through shipping, cranage, transport, on-site handling and installation.
The Port of Ngqura has been the port of entry for major abnormal-sized equipment, particularly wind turbine components and items such as the cold box for Afrox’s and Air Products’ air separation unit, among others.
Dr Ayanda Vilakazi, CDC Head of Marketing and Communications said: “South Africa is presently one of the world’s most exciting renewable energy markets. CDC has identified renewables component manufacturing as a key activity to boost the local economy, but is now also providing special support through the new lay-down area.
“From a logistics perspective, location at Coega IDZ enables easy access to the Port of Ngqura and the N2 highway and our laydown area plays a vital part of the logistics value chain, enabling short to medium storage solutions.
“Future investors and tenants likely to make use of the laydown also include Project Mthombo, the ferrous metals plants, and the biofuels facilities.
“The laydown area will allow tenants of the area to move cargo between the port and IDZ, within an allocated space through a dedicated entrance, reducing heavy traffic on the main entrance route to the port,” he said.
Alan Straton
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