The 2016-17 edition of KwaZulu-Natal Business is the eighth issue of this highly successful publication that, since its launch in 2008, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide to the KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa.
The province is unique in terms of its abundant natural and human resources, and is also one of the key drivers behind the South African economy.
To complement the extensive local, national and international distribution of the print edition of the magazine (15 000 copies), the full content can also be viewed online at www.kwazulunatalbusiness.co.za.
Updated information on KwaZulu-Natal is also available through our monthly e-newsletter, which you can subscribe to online at www.globalafricanetwork.com, in addition to our other business-to-business titles that cover all nine provinces, complemented by our flagship publication, South African Business.
PROFILE The Port of
PROFILE The Port of Richards Bay A catalyst for growth – ‘From Fishing Village to Port City'. Forty years ago ‘A Giant Arose’ and ‘Continues to Soar!’ The Port of Richards Bay began its trajectory when the first phase of the harbour was officially opened on 1 April 1976, primarily for the export of coal. Anchor terminal operators were the then South African Railways and Harbours and the Richards Bay Coal Terminal Company Limited (RBCT), which later became the largest single coal terminal exporter in the world. Three possible sites for a new harbour had been considered including: Kosi Bay, Sodwana Bay and Richards Bay. Richards Bay was selected due to the large lagoon; ease of dredging; its direct link to the national rail network; the bay’s proximity to the town of Empangeni to stimulate initial development and the availability of ample fresh water. The Port, which commemorated its 40th Anniversary on 1 April 2016, has developed Richards Bay from a small fishing village into an internationally recognised KWAZULU-NATAL BUSINESS 2016/17 36
PROFILE industrial hub and Port City, thanks to the efforts of key role-players over the past four decades. Today the Port of Richards Bay is South African’s largest Port in terms of volumes, importing and exporting more than 60% of South Africa’s seaborne cargo, having achieved almost 100-million tons in 2015/16, with a turnover in excess of R1-billion. It is also the largest Port in South Africa in terms of size, covering an area of 3 773 hectares – a large portion of which is still undeveloped, providing great potential for future growth. Initially established to export 26-million tons of coal over the first 10 years, the Port has diversified its operations to handle other cargoes and provides a worldclass service to ensure clients can compete locally, nationally and internationally, playing a key role in shaping South Africa’s future growth and prosperity. Coal, however, remains the single largest commodity in terms of volumes and is the second-largest foreign exchange earner for the South African economy after gold. The Port currently hosts six licensed cargohandling terminals: • Dry Bulk Terminal, operated by Transnet Port Terminals – handles a large variety of ores, minerals and woodchips • Break Bulk Terminal, also operated by Transnet Port Terminals – handles a diversity of loose bulk and break bulk cargoes, as well as heavy lifts and abnormal loads • Richards Bay Coal Terminal – with the capacity to export 91-million tons per annum • Bulk liquid terminal, operated by Bidvest Tank Terminals – handles a wide range of bulk liquids • Richards Bay Bunker Terminal, operated by Engen – imports bunker fuel from Durban and Cape Town. Bunkering is also carried out by a bunker barge operating in the Port 37 KWAZULU-NATAL BUSINESS 2016/17
