TNPA Seeks Private Partner for Cape Town Cold-Storage Terminal to Power Blue Economy

“This terminal will enhance the province’s thriving fishing industry, contribute to economic growth, and strengthen the logistics value chain,” said Rajesh Dana, Port Manager for Cape Town.

The Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has taken a decisive step toward expanding South Africa’s ocean-based economy, issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a private operator to develop and manage a new Break Bulk Terminal dedicated to cold storage of fish and related products at the Port of Cape Town.

The project, announced on 15 October 2025, signals a practical advance in Transnet’s broader drive to reinvent port operations through private investment and sustainable logistics development. It forms part of TNPA’s long-term infrastructure blueprint—the Port Development Framework Plans (PDFPs)—which align national ports with global best practice while stimulating local economic ecosystems.

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Building an Export Gateway for the Western Cape’s Fishing Sector

The earmarked brownfield site covers roughly 7 273 m², positioned between the ship-repair and liquid-bulk precincts of the Cape Town harbour. Its location is not incidental: it sits at the heart of the Western Cape’s commercial fishing corridor, where fleets operating off the Benguela Current land high-value species such as hake, tuna, and squid.

Once operational, the terminal will allow vessels to offload frozen catches directly into modern cold-chain facilities, reducing handling times and preserving quality for export markets. This design is expected to increase efficiency in the seafood logistics chain while supporting regional competitiveness against other Southern African ports.

“This terminal will enhance the province’s thriving fishing industry, contribute to economic growth, and strengthen the logistics value chain,” said Rajesh Dana, Port Manager for Cape Town.

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Public–Private Partnership for Growth and Efficiency

Under the RFP, TNPA seeks an experienced private operator to finance, refurbish, construct, operate, maintain, and eventually transfer the facility back to the Authority after a 10-year concession period.

This public–private partnership (PPP) model is a central feature of Transnet’s “Reinvent for Growth” strategy, which encourages private capital to modernise port assets and relieve fiscal pressure on the state. By leveraging external investment, TNPA aims to introduce advanced cold-storage technology, digital tracking systems, and energy-efficient refrigeration—all critical for meeting international standards in perishable exports.

The model also creates space for local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in maintenance, logistics, and supply-chain services, aligning with national targets for inclusive growth and black industrialisation.

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Alignment with National Port Development Vision

The Port Development Framework Plans (2032–2052) chart a long-term vision to reconfigure Cape Town’s port into a multi-purpose logistics hub, optimising land use and clustering compatible activities. Under this plan, break-bulk cargo functions—now dispersed across older terminals—will migrate to the port’s Multi-Purpose Precinct.

This clustering approach ensures shared infrastructure, reduced congestion, and better integration between cold storage, container, and bulk-liquid terminals. It also allows TNPA to align infrastructure with climate-resilient standards, digital automation, and new energy-efficiency targets.

By situating the new terminal within this framework, TNPA is not merely filling a gap in the market; it is reinforcing the systemic modernization of South Africa’s maritime logistics network.

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The Blue Economy and Local Development

South Africa’s fishing industry contributes more than R8 billion annually to GDP and supports thousands of coastal jobs. Yet, constrained port infrastructure and limited cold-storage capacity have long restricted the sector’s export potential.

Cape Town already handles about 60 percent of the nation’s fish exports, but operators frequently face bottlenecks due to ageing facilities and overlapping cargo uses. The proposed terminal therefore addresses both a capacity shortfall and a strategic developmental goal: strengthening the province’s “blue economy” by linking marine harvesting, processing, and logistics in a seamless chain.

Economic modelling within TNPA suggests the project could create dozens of direct jobs in construction and terminal operations, and hundreds more indirect opportunities in trucking, packaging, and cold-chain services over the decade-long concession period.

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Competitive Advantages for South African Trade

Globally, demand for traceable, high-quality seafood continues to rise—driven by consumers in Asia and Europe. The new facility positions South Africa to respond to these markets with shorter turnaround times and improved quality control.

It will also serve as a prototype for similar port-based cold-chain developments in Ngqura, Saldanha Bay, and Durban, helping Transnet benchmark new operating models that balance commercial efficiency with developmental inclusion.

From a policy perspective, the project supports three major government strategies:

1. Operation Phakisa’s Ocean Economy Programme, which promotes marine-sector growth;

2. The National Infrastructure Plan 2050, encouraging blended finance and PPPs; and

3. The Western Cape Infrastructure Framework, which prioritises logistics efficiency and export readiness.

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Process and Timelines

A non-compulsory briefing session for prospective bidders will take place on 21 October 2025. Interested entities can access RFP documents on the National Treasury e-Tender Portal (www.etender.gov.za) or via Transnet’s website (www.transnet.net).

Following evaluation and negotiation, TNPA expects to appoint the preferred bidder by mid-2026, with construction commencing thereafter. The first phase—site preparation and facility refurbishment—is projected to span 18 months, allowing for commissioning before the 2028 export season.

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Looking Ahead

The proposed cold-storage terminal encapsulates a broader shift in South Africa’s port governance: a move from state-led operations to hybrid, performance-based partnerships that unlock private investment, generate jobs, and expand regional value chains.

For the fishing industry, the terminal could mark the start of a new export era—one where sustainability, quality assurance, and trade facilitation converge to deliver long-term competitiveness.

As Rajesh Dana noted, “By aligning with our Reinvent for Growth strategy, this development demonstrates how targeted investment in infrastructure can stimulate inclusive and sustainable economic growth.”