Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) and Freeport Saldanha have signed a 25-year lease covering approximately 55 hectares at the Port of Saldanha, supporting a proposed R6.9bn pipeline of industrial and infrastructure projects.
Source: Supplied
The lease covers land in the Southern Precinct of the port and provides long-term tenure for industrial activities linked to the Saldanha Bay Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
The agreement follows the conclusion of a Commercial Terms Framework between TNPA and Freeport Saldanha, which established the basis for the lease.
R6.9bn pipeline planned
Freeport Saldanha's investment pipeline is valued at approximately R6.9bn and includes projects across marine and bunkering services, industrial development and manufacturing, and energy infrastructure.
Projects under consideration include liquefied natural gas (LNG) import and storage capacity.
Freeport Saldanha CEO Xola Sithole said the lease provides greater certainty for prospective investors. “Investors commit capital where there is certainty, and this lease provides it.
"With 25 years of secured port-linked land, Freeport Saldanha can now offer investors one coordinated package of industrial land and TNPA facilitated access to port facilities. Our focus is to turn this agreement into signed investor leases, construction activity and jobs for Saldanha Bay and the wider West Coast.”
Port and SEZ linked
The agreement is intended to strengthen coordination between activities at the Port of Saldanha and industrial development within the SEZ.
It will allow investors to use port infrastructure alongside industrial facilities, while supporting future freight and logistics demand and further industrial development in the area.
TNPA CEO Mohammed Abdool said the agreement would support investment and activity across the logistics value chain. “The agreement demonstrates the critical role strategic infrastructure partnerships play in enabling economic growth and supporting South Africa's competitiveness.
"This agreement is more than the leasing of land. It is about creating the conditions necessary for investment, industrial development and long-term growth. By strengthening the relationship between the Port of Saldanha and the Special Economic Zone, we are creating a platform that will attract investment, support exports and unlock opportunities across the logistics value chain.”
Supporting port development
The lease forms part of Transnet's Reinvent for Growth Strategy, which includes improving port efficiency, making greater use of existing infrastructure and attracting investment.
Freeport Saldanha is South Africa's only port-based SEZ. Its target sectors include marine and offshore services, green hydrogen and energy, logistics and warehousing, manufacturing and engineering, and agro-processing.
The Port of Saldanha is one of South Africa's eight commercial seaports and plays a role in the country's freight and export infrastructure.
