Stakeholders in the export-orientated fruit value chain, including the Western Cape government and Transnet Port Terminals (TPT), have announced a new collaboration aimed at enhancing operations at the Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT).

The public sector partnership (PSP) involves the installation of two additional 500 kVA generators, with 60 reefer container plug points each, at the terminal. This upgrade will enable the terminal to increase capacity during the peak deciduous season by providing an additional reefer stack.

The generators, commissioned with funding from the Western Cape Department of Economic Development & Tourism, the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz), Hortgro, the South African Table Grape Industry, the Fresh Produce Exporters' Forum and the KAL Group, mark a milestone in PSP projects executed at the CTCT.

By increasing the terminal’s capacity to handle containers during peak weeks, when volume surges are experienced – and providing a separate reefer stack which can be loaded during periods of high wind – this project will contribute to improving the terminal’s overall output during the peak deciduous fruit export season.

"We look forward to seeing the positive impact this will have on fresh produce exports from the Western Cape and to continuing our collaboration with the Western Cape government and TPT to drive growth and development in the sector,” says Agbiz CEO Theo Boshoff.  

This project benefits exporters operating out of the CTCT directly and serves as a pilot project for future initiatives. We can apply the lessons learned to pave the way for future PSP projects between TPT and cargo owners, he adds.

“The agricultural industry relies heavily on the logistics sector in South Africa. Although cargo owners are not the direct clients of the terminal, they have fostered a strong relationship over the past few years. We stood ready to assist when TPT requested generators and mobile plug points, and we quickly delivered on our offer,” Boshoff explains.

This initiative is a good example of the power of PSP projects in driving economic growth and development, says Western Cape provincial minister of agriculture, economic development and tourism Dr Ivan Meyer, citing the province’s aim to triple exports from the Western Cape by 2035.

“Support to primary stakeholders to address challenges in the Port of Cape Town is therefore a key priority,” Meyer says.

The request from TPT to contribute towards standby generators for the peak deciduous fruit export season is consistent with this strategy.

Meyer comments that the partnership between TPT and fruit exporters on this project will substantially reduce the risk of delays in large volumes of perishable cargo movement that is associated with disruptive events, such as extended periods of high wind speeds.

According to TPT Western Cape managing executive Oscar Borchards, TPT is committed to implementing continual improvements that can assist exports out of Cape Town.

“Our focus is to continue strengthening our relations with all our stakeholders within the entire value chain. This project is one of the strides we have been making through collaboration with our stakeholders, and we appreciate the spirit with which it has been executed with the fruit industry.

“Projects like these very much align with our commitment to efficiently deliver fresh cargo from our customers to the global markets timeously. We are excited to explore similar initiatives in future,” Borchards concludes.