Latest news with #Coega
Zawya
08-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: MSC brings 24,000 TEU ultra-large container ship to Coega
A 24,000 TEU ultra-large container vessel (ULCV) has arrived at the Port of Coega, marking a major milestone for South Africa's shipping and trade sector. The MSC Nicola Mastro, operated by MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, is one of the world's largest container ships and the biggest of its kind to call at a South African port. Boost for trade and logistics Measuring 400 metres in length with a gross tonnage of 228,786 and a beam of 61 metres, the vessel can carry approximately 24,000 standard containers. Its arrival represents a leap in cargo capacity for the region, designed to improve economies of scale by transporting vast quantities of goods in a single voyage, reducing per-unit shipping costs. The vessel was guided safely into Coega with pilotage support from a highly skilled team of marine pilots. Strengthening Africa's position in global trade By deploying vessels of this scale to South African ports, MSC reaffirms its commitment to the economic development of the continent. The move consolidates the company's role as a logistics partner in Africa, connecting local markets to MSC's global maritime and inland network. "The introduction of a 24,000 TEU vessel to the Port of Coega is a testament to MSC's unwavering confidence in South Africa's economic potential and its strategic importance in global trade routes," says Rosario Sarno, managing director for MSC Southern Africa. Infrastructure and regional benefits The deployment offers several advantages for the country's logistics sector: • Increased trade efficiency: Larger volumes of goods can be moved in fewer shipments, streamlining logistics and potentially reducing transit times. • Port infrastructure investment: Regular calls of vessels of this size encourage ongoing investment and upgrades in port infrastructure and equipment, strengthening Coega's position as a leading African port. • Regional connectivity: The move enhances South Africa's role as a gateway to Southern Africa, supporting the efficient distribution of goods to neighbouring countries. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Daily Maverick
17-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
After the founders: Will Coega and East London special economic zones thrive?
There has been significant change in the leadership of the special economic zones in the Eastern Cape, from the chief executives in charge of day-to-day operations to the chairpersons of the boards who exercise oversight over the entities. In the last year, Coega Development Corporation longtimer Themba Khoza took over the reins as CEO of the corporation with Advocate Luvuyo Bono (DBA) assuming chairpersonship of the board. At the East London industrial development zone, another longtimer, Thembela Zweni, has succeeded Simphiwe Kondlo as CEO, with businessman Motse Mfuleni becoming the chairperson of the board. A range of other changes have taken place at executive levels in both organisations, signifying the bringing in of new blood and continuity. Transitions can be life changing for the survival of organisations, just as substitutions in sports games may make the difference between success and failure. As such, they bring excitement and concern. From a demographic perspective there is a generational shift in both executive and non-executive roles in most instances. I have had the privilege of watching some of the key individuals now in charge of these institutions grow professionally for the past 20 years, some in proximity and others at a distance. In many ways, it is fitting to see them succeed some of the leaders they themselves admired, worked with, or whose tutelage they were under. Perhaps some context is crucial. The special economic zones of the Eastern Cape became a crucial part of South Africa's attempt to drive export-oriented industrialisation within the first decade of democracy. First conceptualised in the passing of spatial development initiatives, they were among the first to attempt to broaden economic activities away from the three major metros of Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town. Development at the coast would not only ensure the hitherto marginalised regions would start seeing significant investments, they would also help accelerate the path towards export-oriented industrialisation. Forerunners That initial thinking morphed into the erstwhile Industrial Development Zones programme. Coega and East London were forerunners in that both were officially declared in the early 2000s. We could interpret the significant part of the early leadership of the SEZs to what one may call 'the old boys of St John's College' in Mthatha. Pepi Silinga and Simphiwe Kondlo both took over the reins as the concepts were gaining shape to lead the execution phases. They worked together with their corresponding business chambers and regional stakeholders from politicians to unionists. Key competencies at the time were as much about running infrastructure development and investment promotion initiatives as they were about the political acumen to mobilise resources. The latter was needed to ensure the survival of the organisations amid a barrage of attacks from stakeholders who were not completely convinced that the regions needed the nature of heavy industries that were the apparent anchor projects for these zones. The two chairpersons of the boards of the two entities are middle aged executives who have extensive experience starting and growing their own businesses, as well as serving on various boards. This entrepreneurial as opposed to a strongly corporate background should bring into the organisations a leadership approach that is adept, especially in survival skills. Those remain despite the long stint the organisations have had as running concerns. The organisations have never derived value from passive boards. Yes, the executive leadership of the entities has had great autonomy and space to lead operations without interference from the boards. However, the boards were never passive when it came to resource mobilisation and behind-the-scenes stakeholder engagement to guarantee a steady flow of resources. Further, politics is primary in development, and the CEO and chairperson of the board need to manage effective political relations close enough to mobilise support, but distant enough to avoid the trappings of the patronage networks that incumbent political leaders sometimes induce. In a conversation I had with Premier Oscar Mabuyane about where the Eastern Cape is and its ability to keep on securing resources and allocating them to our key projects, he was quick to point out that the fiscal instruments are no longer the same and the need for mutual collaboration has become greater now than it was back when these projects received significant allocations from the provincial government. We may not know the full behind the scenes details of these leaders, but their public exploits have been amazing. Mfuleni has grown his business in leaps and bounds. He has stayed the course in events management and other sectors and has been on various boards over the past 20 years, adept in both business and political acumen. Freedom Bono has had a long stint in business too, opting to remain outside of the mainstream routes in the legal profession so he could retain the freedom to focus on international labour law, business, and running his practice, among other things. They are positioned to champion the sustainability causes of the organisations they lead. Khoza and Zweni strike me as first and foremost stewards who will honour the legacies of their predecessors and bring in their own leadership to achieve greater success. This dual task is crucial. A sense of burden to distinguish oneself from the predecessor may lead a successor to stumble. Since they worked a long time with their predecessors, one expects that they remain inspired by their efforts as they are motivated to achieve a greater mission. As such, there should be recognition at the board level that these organisations have built significant internal leadership capacity to be left alone to continue to run operationally, while concurrently nudging them to stretch towards new aspirations as dictated by the times. There is a need to ensure rapid success, and much of the momentum gained over the years does position the organisations for greater success. Yet there is a need to adopt a strategy to push the organisations beyond their self-determined objectives, given the sense of urgency for radical change that the province dictates. DM
Zawya
13-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa's $5.8bln Hive project aims to lead low-cost ammonia output
A $5.8bn project on South Africa's east coast seeks to use the country's infrastructure and cheap renewable power to make some of the world's least expensive green ammonia for clients in Europe and Asia, an executive said. South Africa is vying with other African nations, including Egypt, Morocco and Namibia, to meet rising demand in the European Union and Asia for hydrogen and ammonia described as green because they are produced from renewable energy. Ammonia is used in making fertiliser and by the chemical industry and it is also the means to deliver hydrogen, which is sought after to reduce carbon emissions but is very difficult to ship or pipe. The project at the port of Coega, jointly developed by Britain's Hive Energy and South African partner BuiltAfrica, is expected to ship around one million metric tons a year of green ammonia to clients by late 2029, Hive Energy's Africa chief executive officer Colin Loubser said. "Our project, we believe, will provide the lowest-cost green ammonia globally," he said on the sidelines of an energy conference in Cape Town. The project can use existing infrastructure and ample wind and solar energy. A desalination plant on site, operated by South Africa's biggest salt-maker by volume Cerebos, for example, will also help to offset capital expenditure. Benchmarking global indices, Loubser said green ammonia was priced at around $760 a ton free-on-board, but the Coega operations could produce the commodity for less. "We can produce at $650 a tonne and still give an investor a very attractive double-digit internal rate of return," he said, adding that the company was in talks with customers in Europe, Japan and Korea. According to South Africa's Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, the country could approach $1 per kilogramme of green hydrogen by 2050. Loubser said subsidy programmes in countries such as Australia and India may pose a threat to South Africa, but that it should remain competitive in the nascent sector. Strategically situated along a major shipping route, Hive's project could eventually quadruple production to 4 million tpa, Loubser said.
Reuters
12-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
South Africa's $5.8 billion Hive project aims to lead low-cost ammonia output
CAPE TOWN, June 12 (Reuters) - A $5.8 billion project on South Africa's east coast seeks to use the country's infrastructure and cheap renewable power to make some of the world's cheapest green ammonia for clients in Europe and Asia, an executive said. South Africa is vying with other African nations, including Egypt, Morocco and Namibia, to meet rising demand in the European Union and Asia for hydrogen and ammonia described as green because they are produced from renewable energy. Ammonia is used in making fertiliser and by the chemical industry and it is also the means to deliver hydrogen, which is sought after to reduce carbon emissions but is very difficult to ship or pipe. The project at the port of Coega, jointly developed by Britain's Hive Energy and South African partner BuiltAfrica, is expected to ship around one million metric tons a year of green ammonia to clients by late 2029, Hive Energy's Africa CEO Colin Loubser told Reuters. "Our project, we believe, will provide the lowest cost green ammonia globally," he said on the sidelines of an energy conference in Cape Town. The project can use existing infrastructure and ample wind and solar energy. A desalination plant on site, operated by South Africa's biggest salt-maker by volume Cerebos, for example, will also help to offset capital expenditure. Benchmarking global indices, Loubser said green ammonia was priced at around $760 a ton free-on-board, but the Coega operations could produce the commodity for less. "We can produce at $650 a tonne and still give an investor a very attractive double-digit internal rate of return," he said, adding that the company was in talks with customers in Europe, Japan and Korea. According to South Africa's Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, the country could approach $1 per kilogramme of green hydrogen by 2050. Loubser said subsidy programmes in countries such as Australia and India may pose a threat to South Africa, but that it should remain competitive in the nascent sector. Strategically situated along a major shipping route, Hive's project could eventually quadruple production to 4 million tpa, Loubser said.
The Herald
26-05-2025
- The Herald
Three burnt bodies found near Coega
While conducting routine patrols Gqeberha police stumbled across a gruesome discovery when they found three burnt bodies near the R334, on the outskirts of the city. Members from the Swartkops police station were conducting routine patrols on Monday morning when they noticed smoke coming from the bushes, near the old Coega road, at about 7am. Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said members went to investigate the origin of the smoke and came across the bodies. He said while the investigation was still in its early stages, it appeared the victims had been set alight with tyres placed around their necks. 'It is, however, unclear if this was the cause of death or if they were already deceased before being set alight. 'A postmortem is yet to be conducted to confirm their gender and to establish the cause of death.' Beetge said a murder investigation had been launched. Anyone with information that could assist with the investigation is urged to contact Detective Sergeant Thandiwe Sodladla on 073-676-4936. Alternatively, contact Crime Stop on 08600-10111, or the nearest police station. The Herald
