Transnet seeks private investor for East London LNG terminal

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has issued a request for proposals to develop a small- to medium-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at the Port of East London in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. The initiative seeks to attract private capital and expertise to design, finance, build, operate, and maintain the facility under a 25-year concession. At the end of this period, the infrastructure will be transferred to TNPA.

This project is part of a strategic effort to transform the Eastern Cape into a major energy and industrial hub. It follows a separate 25-year agreement signed in May with Ukwanda LNG for an onshore regasification facility at the Port of Ngqura.

The development aligns with a broader national strategy to specialize South African port functions to improve efficiency. Under this plan, ports like Ngqura and Richards Bay are intended to handle larger volumes of liquid and dry bulk cargoes, including hydrocarbons, while Durban and Cape Town focus on container handling.