Over US$330m is provided to support sustainability and resiliency efforts that reduce the port’s environmental impact and enhance the resiliency of its facilities.
To achieve the port’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals, US$10m in capital spending is provided for electric vehicle charging infrastructure projects across the facilities.
Port authority executive director, Rick Cotton, said: “This proposed budget will support rapid, demonstrable progress to achieve our priority objectives.”
Another US$11m in operating expense funds are provided to convert the port’s light duty and airport shuttle bus fleet to all-electric, implement an electric cargo handling equipment demonstration project at Port Elizabeth, further efforts with the port’s truck replacement programme and support the Ocean-Going Clean Vessel Incentive programme.
To reduce port authority energy consumption, four large energy efficiency projects are underway across all facilities, with nine additional projects under development.
Also included in the budget is US$787m to provide world-class safety and security at port authority facilities, to upgrade cybersecurity initiatives and to enhance emergency operations.