Port Development
The second phase of the Port Development Options Study by Opus International
Consultants Ltd was completed in 2005. This provided options for handling
up to 3.8 million tonnes of coal per year, plus aggregate, general cargo
and fish products. Three berth development sites and 28 options for road,
rail, or conveyor access to the port were considered. Following public
consultation, the Grey District Council as port owner and local authority
approved, subject to users entering into viable contracts :
The development of cargo berths in the Grey River and Erua Moana Lagoon,
with associated stockpiling and cargo handling equipment, to service ships
up to about 10,000 tonnes carrying capacity.
Redevelopment of fish unloading berths in Erua Moana Lagoon.
The use of road transport via existing roads to access the port for up
to 1.5 million tonnes per year.
The promotion of reinstatement of rail access via a southern route for
higher tonnages.
The formation of a company to operate the port once viable contracts were
secured. An interim company establishment committee has been appointed.
These decisions have been prompted by pending increases in coal production
in the Grey District from about 450,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) currently,
to 900,000 tpa when Solid Energy’s Spring Creek Mine comes into
full production in 2006, and to over 2 million tpa with expansion of the
Spring Creek Mine and Roa Mine, and the proposed 1.3 million tpa Pike
River Mine coming into production.
Potential markets are international export via coastal or trans-Tasman
shipping to a transhipment port capable of Panamax or larger ships, such
as Port Kembla or Port Taranaki, or North Island industry facing the loss
of natural gas supply.
Negotiations with potential customers are underway to develop the first
1.5 million tonnes of new cargo handling capacity over the next 3 years.
This will involve:
- turning knuckle at junction of Grey River and E Rua Moana Lagoon to
enable turning of 137 m long ships.
- new berth
- new facilities for receiving coal from trucks, stock-piling and ship-loading,
extension of stock-pile capacity to 34,000 tonnes, improved dust control.
- automated entrance condition monitoring.
Pike River Coal Company Ltd announced on 23 December 2005 that it had
selected a transport system involving trucking to Port of Greymouth, coastal
shipping in up to 12,000 tonne capacity ships from Greymouth to Port Taranaki
and loading onto Panamax size export vessels at Taranaki.
Links
Opus International Consultants
Port
Taranaki Ltd
Grey
District Council long term community council plan (LTCCP)
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