About Tambo Springs
Next Generation Logistics Gateway
Tambo Springs Logistics Gateway in Southern Ekurhuleni is an internationally competitive location which will offer the first complete Supply Chain Solution to the Southern African region. This world-class development will bring together all aspects of the warehousing, distribution manufacturing and shipping industry through next-generation solutions aimed at enhancing supply chain and operating efficiencies. From the Ports to rail, road or air, to the warehouses and finally to the customers, Tambo Springs will be equipped to meet all your manufacturing and distribution needs. Tambo Springs will nearly double current freight logistics capacity in and out of Gauteng by incorporating a range of elements which will differentiate it as a world-class competitive location.
These elements, which will be developed on the 607 ha site by the Tambo Springs Development Company as Master Developer, will include the following key differentiators, which set a new standard for industrial/logistics developments in South Africa:
Tambo Springs Logistics Gateway will create an intermodal capability, seamlessly integrating road, rail, air and sea transport i.r.o. the movement of container freight as it is exceptionally well located in the southern periphery of Johannesburg/Ekurhuleni and within the Johannesburg/Durban road freight and rail corridor. It will have fast, easy access to major road and rail networks linking it to the country's major seaports, OR Tambo International Airport and big industrial/distribution centers.
As regards road transport, it has direct access to the N3 freeway to/from Durban (South Africa's major freight transport route) to the N1 freeway to/from Cape Town and via the R390, to Port Elizabeth and East London. There are also direct road links to the major industrial centers in Gauteng most of which are within a 20 - 60 km radius. The site is only 22km from the City Deep Terminal and 25km from the OR Tambo Air Freight Terminal.
As regards rail, the existing freight rail links already run through the site and link it to the seaports of Durban, Cape Town, and Ngqura (Port Elizabeth). The Tambo Springs development can contribute significantly to optimising the country's existing infrastructure, particularly that of the Ngqura Deep Water Port near Port Elizabeth. This is important in the short to medium term given existing congestion issues with Durban.
The Tambo Springs Intermodal Terminal will accommodate a new state of the art rail terminal facility as well as an intermodal rail yard capable of handling point to point movement of freight using 'block trains' up to 2km in length. This is possible because the Tambo Springs property has an existing dual directional freight rail line which runs along the northwestern boundary for approximately 3.5 km.
Tambo Springs Logistics Gateway has two major concurrent development components, namely the property development component and the rail development component. Both of these are expected to be construction ready, i.e. in a position to commence construction in 2019.
Property Development Component
All the required development approvals are in place to proceed with the development including:
- Rezoning approval has been finalised which allows for the required development rights;
- ROD which allows for the development as envisaged has been secured in terms of Environment Impact Requirement Legislation;
- Water Use Licences are in place;
- Engineering designs for the Bulk Services are complete and internal services designs are underway;
- Other relevant development approvals/protocol in place.
Intermodal Terminal Development
- Transnet have entered into a Sale Agreement with TSDC to secure the land required for the Intermodal Terminal development;
- Transnet issued an RFP to the private sector in June 2016 to procure, via a 20-year concession, a private partner to develop, own, operate and finally transfer the terminal back to Transnet at the end of the Concession period;
- Transnet have identified the preferred Bidder for the R2,5 B Terminal development and Transnet’s Board has awarded the concession for the Terminal to the preferred Bidder in late October 2018;
- A public announcement regarding the award of the Concession and the development of the Terminal is expected in December 2018;
- Construction to commence in 2019.
Construction on the Property Development Component should commence in the first quarter of 2019 followed by construction start on the Intermodal Terminal in the third quarter of 2019. The construction of Bulk and Internal Services for Phase 1 is expected to take 12 months, with completion targeted for first/second quarter 2020. The Phase 1 Intermodal Terminal construction is expected to take 18 months with completion expected in early 2021.