THE BUILDING of a deep-water port at Coega will free up land worth over R36-million for redevelopment, according to an independent environmental impact report. Existing facilities within the Port Elizabeth harbour will be needed by the fishing industry and “no doubt the export of fruit,” according to the Coastal and Environmental Services report. It adds that the diversion of traffic from Port Elizabeth to the proposed port of Ngqura, which can be seen from the existing harbour wall, “should be determined by the saving in resource costs which can be achieved – the economic efficiency of the arrangement.” The report notes that consultants to P&O Nedlloyd estimated that the new container terminal would need to process 400 000 containers a year to be viable. Looking at co-operation between Port Elizabeth and Coega, the report suggests that the two ports be managed together to facilitate the cross-handling of containers. P&O Nedlloyd is the technology partner of the Coega Development Corporation (CDC), which is developing an adjacent industrial development zone (IDZ). The report adds that the closure of Port Elizabeth harbour would have “very serious economic consequences” for the Port Elizabeth central business district. However, the removal of manganese ore and bulk fuel handling facilities would free up land worth more than R36-million for redevelopment next to the city centre. Options being considered include increasing the use of the port by the Eastern Cape fishing fleet and tourism development.