Plumbing Africa June 2018 | Page 19

17 created during operation. TNPA has for years engaged in ongoing collaboration with the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone Licencing Company to optimise opportunities for foreign direct investment in the oil and gas sector in Saldanha. repairs and maintenance, new builds, and fabrication activities for the servicing of upstream and midstream oil and gas services. The Authority recently concluded a commercial development lease agreement with the Saldanha Bay IDZ for the development of various pockets of land, totalling 35 hectares in the port, as the first tranche of IDZ- designated land parcels. Qalinge concluded, “On behalf of TNPA and Transnet, I would like to thank the Saldanha Bay IDZ Licencing Company for its unrelenting work to establish Saldanha as a world-class, internationally recognised, and thriving industrial centre of South African marine engineering, where the local economies can benefit from entering the global oil and gas value chain.” This is the first time that a special economic zone (SEZ) has been designated within a South African commercial port and is a historical achievement for the Port of Saldanha and its hinterland, as well as for TNPA and Transnet in driving economic growth and investment. The OSSB will operate within the SEZ and will offer incentives to the industry, both local and international, to establish an oil and gas hub to drive the port’s and region’s overall focus on positioning itself as a global player in the sector. PA The IDZ and TNPA will jointly market the port to enable the subleasing of various pockets of land, and the IDZ will be the implementing vehicle for the provision of infrastructure, promotion of investment, and management of the SEZ. The IDZ was granted a permit to operate the SEZ with funding of R303-million for the development of the landside area. The core activities within the area will include logistics, www.plumbingafrica.co.za In partnering with Transnet, Saldehco will focus on developing the marine and ocean services industry in Saldanha Bay. Sophie Masipa, Saldehco chairperson June 2018 Volume 24 I Number 4