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SPOTLIGHT: SOUTH Africa
MASTER PL ANS The South African government recently published the National Infrastructure Plan to 2050, which includes a number of initiatives affecting the ports sector
T
he first phase of South Africa’s National Infrastructure Plan to 2050 focuses on four sectors including energy, water, digital infrastructure and freight transport, outlining the government’s short- to medium-term plans to strengthen these sectors and boost their contribution to the economy as a whole, according to South African law firm Bowmans. Bowmans says a particular emphasis is given to rail and port infrastructure, including moving more freight from road to rail using Transnet Freight Rail to encourage third party operators into the mix. Another plan is to establish an independent National Ports Authority during the course of the next year and this will include putting an end to cross subsidies between rail and port operations to ensure that port fees are ring-fenced to benefit the ports’ sector. Logistics’ corridors in South Africa are to be strengthened to support and facilitate the movement of freight, particularly between Durban and Gauteng and between Saldanha Bay and the Northern Cape. Other plans include the promotion of regional shipping and ensuring seaports are integrated with regional multimodal
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international | SUMMER 2022
