Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has appointed FFS Tank Terminals as the preferred bidder to refurbish and operate a liquid bulk terminal under a 25-year concession.
The brownfield development, located within the port’s liquid bulk precinct, will focus on handling edible oils and compatible cargo. The project represents a projected investment of R102 million, covering both capital expenditure and long-term maintenance.
FFS Tank Terminals will be responsible for financing, constructing, operating and maintaining the facility, which will be transferred back to TNPA at the end of the concession period.
Planned upgrades include improvements to storage tanks to enhance structural integrity, as well as the repurposing of an existing import pipeline currently used for vegetable and edible oils. The project will also involve upgrading gantry systems and receiving infrastructure, alongside the redevelopment of the Nautilus facility.
Once completed, the upgraded pipeline will be able to accommodate additional cargo types, including caustic soda lye and monoethylene glycol. The improvements are expected to increase throughput of both vegetable oils and specialty chemicals.
Dr Dineo Mazibuko, TNPA General Manager for Commercial Services, said the development forms part of the authority’s strategy to diversify port operations in response to changing market demands. She added that the project will support the security of supply for industrial and food-related products while improving infrastructure utilisation.
The appointment follows the conclusion of the Section 56 process under the National Ports Act of 2005.
FFS Tank Terminals, a Level 1 B-BBEE contributor, has more than two decades of experience in liquid bulk terminal operations and manages multiple storage and manufacturing facilities across South Africa. The company has also committed to ongoing investment in local suppliers and skills development initiatives.
