Manganese terminal may move from PE

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Mongezi Mtati

Residents living in Humewood near the manganese terminal between Kings Beach and Port Elizabeth Harbour have been complaining for years about the black soot that is dumped on their cars and homes fearing the dust is posing serious health risks for them.

The ore terminal at Port Elizabeth Harbour exports about 350 000 tons of manganese - second only to China - but the government has dismissed any health concerns having conducted a study of pollution levels in the area several years ago.

Now residents in Humewood are again complaining and saying they believe the watering of ore is not being done properly to prevent dust accumulating in the atmosphere.

Residents are hoping that an announcement on when the manganese ore terminal will be moved to Coega or Saldanha will be made by Transnet Port Terminals' chief operating office Nosipho Damasane when he delivers the keynote address at the Mandela Bay Development Agency's conference in the city on Friday, 23 September 2011.

There is a danger that if the manganese ore terminal is moved out of Port Elizabeth Harbour, hundreds of jobs will be lost in the city that is already plagued by high unemployment as a result of the downturn in the automotive industry.

Mandela Bay residents are also hoping that Damasane will shed some light on plans by Transnet to allow a waterfront development in the harbour that will boost economic development in the city that has also been hurt by a dramatic decline in tourism numbers.