Johannesburg - South African state-owned logistics group Transnet on Wednesday asked private firms to bid for the construction of a new freight rail terminal as part of its plans to move more cargo on trains than trucks.
The terminal is one of three planned for Gauteng, the commercial hub of Africa's most industrialised country, handling cargo for import and export ranging from cars to grain and commodities such as iron ore.
Read: Gama: Transnet seeks new opportunities
The bidders are expected to build and operate the terminal expected to be up and running in 2019, the company said.
Transnet did not say how much the contract was worth.
The winning bidder will be responsible for loading, offloading containers and marketing the terminal located east of Johannesburg, while Transnet Freight Rail will handle operation of the arrival and departure yard for servicing the facility.
Under the agreement, the selected firm will hand over the terminal to Transnet after 20 years in what the logistics firm said was its biggest private sector participation project.
Transnet is spending up to R390 billion ($25 billion) over the next 10 years on expanding and revamping its railways, pipelines and ports in South Africa.
REUTERS