TNPA has issued a Request for Proposals for a 25-year concession to operate a 44,430 m3 liquid bulk terminal at the Port of Cape Town, focused on modernizing infrastructure and enhancing bunkering capabilities. The project seeks a private partner to finance and maintain the brownfield site, ensuring long-term operational continuity and strengthening the regional fuel supply chain.
Cape Town, South Africa | May 7, 2026 – Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has officially issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to appoint a specialized terminal operator to manage a strategic liquid bulk terminal at the Port of Cape Town. The 25-year concession represents a major opportunity for private sector participation in South Africa’s maritime energy infrastructure.
The winning bidder will be responsible for the financing, operation, maintenance, refurbishment, and/or construction of the terminal, which includes critical bunkering and related services. This move is part of TNPA’s broader strategy to leverage private expertise to modernize port infrastructure and enhance service delivery.
Infrastructure and Site Capabilities
The project is centered on an existing brownfield development, providing the successful operator with a foundation of established assets to optimize and expand. The site includes:
- Storage Capacity: A tank farm featuring eight storage tanks with a combined capacity of approximately 44,430 cubic meters (m3).
- Support Facilities: An adjacent storage warehouse and a dedicated administrative building.
- Berth Access: The site is strategically positioned for direct interface with common-user berths at Tanker Basin 1 and Tanker Basin 2.
This connectivity is vital for the terminal’s dual role: supporting local fuel supply from nearby refineries and facilitating the importation and distribution of bunkering products for the international shipping industry.
Strategic Objectives: Efficiency and Continuity
The Port of Cape Town occupies a critical position on global shipping routes. Through this RFP, TNPA aims to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the port while optimizing infrastructure utilization.
Ophelia Shabane, Acting Port Manager at the Port of Cape Town, emphasized the importance of the project for regional energy security:
“The Port of Cape Town is strategically positioned to support multiple liquid bulk operations, and this RFP allows for private sector participation to enhance liquid bulk cargo volumes whilst strengthening bunkering capabilities and revenue generation. By attracting a capable terminal operator, we aim to ensure that the site continues to operate efficiently while supporting regional fuel supply and broader economic growth.”
Shabane further noted that the RFP is backed by demonstrable market demand, necessitating an operator who can modernize existing infrastructure and maintain operational continuity without disruption to current supply chains.
Submission and Access
Interested parties are invited to review the RFP documents, which detail the technical and financial requirements for the 25-year concession. These documents are available via:
- National Treasury e-tender portal: etender.gov.za
- Transnet Official Website: transnet.net
About Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA)
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) serves as the landlord and manager of South Africa’s national ports system. Operating under the National Ports Act (Act No. 12 of 2005), TNPA is mandated to ensure the safe, effective, and efficient economic functioning of the country’s eight commercial seaports:
- Richards Bay
- Durban
- Saldanha
- Cape Town
- Port Elizabeth
- East London
- Mossel Bay
- Ngqura
TNPA provides essential port infrastructure and marine services, maintaining a regulatory environment that fosters trade and economic development through world-class port management.
Source: TNPA