Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin is to fast-track the release of port land at the Port Elizabeth harbour to make way for other developments which include a tourism waterfront.

Erwin announced that he is to soon appoint official from his office to work jointly with the key stakeholders such as the National Ports Authority (NPA), Coega Development Corporation (CDC), the Nelson Mandela Metro and the Eastern Cape government.

He said the first initiative which would be the relocation of the manganese ore berth and oil tanks to a site at the Coega industrial development zone. This would effectively turn the PE port into “a clean port” which would help develop tourism-related activities in the area, including the development of a waterfront.

Fast tracking the release of port land might also involve the establishment of a public-private partnership, whereby key stakeholders might bring in another partner to manage the relocation of the manganese ore and the oil tanks from the city to Coega.