Dig-Out Port will boost GDP, says Transnet

IN response to allegations made by protestors against the expansion of Durban’s port, Marc Descoins, Programme Director for Durban Dig-Out Port (DDOP) said Transnet wanted to point out that the plans to expand the Port of Durban were entirely separate to the proposed DDOP.

“The Durban Dig-Out Port is a proposed new port development situated at the site of the old Durban Inrternational Airport which was bought from the Airports Company of South Africa in 2012,” he said, adding that Transnet was aware of the protest demonstration which took place on 29 March and believed it was a democratic fright for any activist group to protest as it encourgaed robust discussion and an exchange of diverse ideas. site of old Durban International Airport which was bought from Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) in 2012,” said Descoins.

He said the proposed DDOP would primarily be a container port which was expected to facilitate increased international trade in general cargo, not petro-chemicals. “It will be located adjacent to already-existing refineries and oil storage facilities that are owned and operated by various oil companies. Nevertheless, Transnet has committed itself to utilise the latest green-port principles during the development, construction and operation of the port, which will encompass internationally benchmarked standards of sustainable design and operation. The DDOP is still in the planning (pre-feasibility) phase and any potential impact on the livelihoods in surrounding communities still needs to be ascertained,” he said.

Descoins said this would be done during the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which had not yet commenced.

The purpose of the EIA would be to identify any potential positive as well as negative effects of the proposed development on surrounding communities as well as the environment. “All these issues will be addressed during the design phase of the port in accordance with internationally-benchmarked principles of sustainability,” he said.

“It is also important to note that the proposed DDOP is expected to realise very positive impacts for the South Durban Basin and eThekwini as a whole. The proposed development of the DDOP will add to the city’s infrastructure proposition and thus be an important catalyst for attracting additional investment, thereby creating economic growth and jobs for its people, particularly those residing in the South Durban Basin,” he said.

Descoins said initial viability studies indicated that the proposed DDOP would result in approximately R11,3 billion per annum being added to KZN’s GDP.

“Approximately 46,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs are expected to be created in KZN, per annum average over the first 30 years of the project,” he said, adding low income households in South Africa were expected to benefit to the tune of approximately R1,6 billion per annum due to the port development, an annual average over the project life-cycle.

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