Transport Minister Barbara Creecy reports that Transnet is preparing to release request for proposal (RFP) documents for three large private sector participation (PSP) projects in 2026, including one RFP that should be released to the market in February.

In a speech delivered as part of the debate on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (SoNA), Creecy stated that Transnet was aiming to release an RFP for the Richards Bay Dry Bulk Terminal “this month”.

Transnet has indicated previously that it is planning to pursue a 25-year partnership at the terminal to expand its capacity from 18.5-million tons to 26.9-million tons and position the Richards Bay Dry Bulk Terminal as the leading bulk export terminal on South Africa’s eastern seaboard.

Creecy also announced that Transnet anticipated issuing RFPs for the Ngqura manganese export corridor PSP project by mid-year, as well as the container Corridor PSP project by the end of 2026.

Through the Ngqura manganese export corridor concession the aim is to consolidate manganese exports in Nelson Mandela Bay through a new 12-million bulk terminal at the Port of Ngqura, integrated with an upgrade of rail capacity from the Northern Cape to Ngqura.

Creecy said that, once completed, the new manganese terminal would also address the long-standing problem of manganese dust that affects the residents of Gqeberha.

The container corridor PSP project, meanwhile, aims to use a 25-year concession model to mobilise private capital, expertise, and operational capacity to tackle the underperformance of South Africa’s primary container logistics corridor linking Johannesburg and Durban.

“There are limited State resources to upgrade our rail network. This makes private-sector infrastructure investment critical,” Creecy said.

Her statement was in line with Ramaphosa’s SoNA announcement that major public-private partnerships for the country’s port terminals and rail corridors would be initiated this year using a concession model that preserved public ownership but also mobilised private investment and expertise.

“Last month, we concluded a partnership with an international port operator to manage the Durban Pier 2 Container Terminal, the largest in our country. This partnership will result in new investment in equipment and infrastructure at the port, and will bring it back to world class standards,” Ramaphosa said, referring to the conclusion of the legally delayed partnership with international Container Terminal Services Incorporated, of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Creecy confirmed that her department was continuing to assess the appetite for investment in commuter rail, including rapid regional rail between Gauteng, Musina, Mbombela and eThekwini.

This was also in line with Ramaphosa’s vision to introduce high-speed rail corridors, which had become a source of some political derision.

“Mr President it is our wish to find a financially sustainable, and affordable model to enable us to re-introduce rapid long-distance rail. It’s a difficult task you have given us. But we will spare no effort because we are convinced many citizens would find regional rail more convenient,” Creecy said.