KwaZulu-Natal Business 2016-17 edition

INTERVIEW
Port of
Richards Bay
Preston Khomo, Port Manager of the Port of Richards Bay,
sees the potential for his deep-sea port to claim a large
slice of the international logistics market.
Preston Khomo
BIOGRAPHY
A qualified geologist, teacher
and community leader, (born
and bred in Port Shepstone,
KwaZulu-Natal), Preston Khomo
was previously Chief Executive
Officer at the Phalaborwa
Municipality, he holds a B.Sc
Honours from the University of
Fort Hare, and a MBA from De
Montfort University, Leicester
in United Kingdom, and M.S
from Alabama, USA. Preston
has undergone a number of
marine-related and executive
leadership courses, including
the Executive Development
Programme at the Gordon
Institute of Business Science
(GIBS). Served Transnet at different
OD’s, Terminal Manager
at (SAPO) TPT, TNPA Head of
Infrastructure and Port Operations
Portcon and Senior Manager
at the Port of Durban. As
from mid-2012 was appointed
as Port Manager.
How did you reach the position of Port Manager?
I spent some time teaching and working as a management consultant
in South Africa and around the world as a qualified geologist. In 2002
I joined the port environment as Terminal Manager, Transnet Port
Terminals, which was then known as South African Port Operations. In
July 2004 I was appointed as Head of Infrastructure Development: Port
Operations and Consulting, TNPA, Richards Bay. Thereafter, I moved
to the Port of Durban as Real Estate Manager. Prior to taking up the
position as Port Manager, TNPA, Port of Richards Bay, I was in charge
of the TNPA Ship Repair Business Unit at the Port of Durban.
What is the present capacity of your Port?
The Port of Richards Bay currently imports and exports a capacity of
over 80-million tons per annum in commodity volumes across our terminals.
The Port of Richards Bay has set itself up as a Port of continuous
growth within South Africa. The potential areas for growth and expansion
lie in the South African ocean economy, focusing on development
as well as technology, thereby ensuring that the port contributes
towards the development of the country's economy. Hence, it is poised
to become one of the largest freight logistics groups and freight hubs.
What major investment drives is the Port promoting?
Transnet is investing more than R15-billion on immediate and mediumto
long-term capacity improvement initiatives in order to expand
and upgrade the Port of Richards Bay to ensure that the bulk port
accommodates the growth in export demand. The intention for the
investment is to expand the country’s main bulk port up until 2020.
The investment opportunities range from agro-processing, chemicals
and allied industries, aluminium production, metals, energy, mineral
processing and forestry to timber-related products.
What are some of the Port’s major successes?
I am proud that the Port is enjoying the success of handling more
than 60% of South Africa's seaborne cargo and is continuing to grow
from strength to strength, in addition to introducing the National Ports
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