25 February 2005

Infrastructure spending by SA's municipalities and state enterprises is set to grow strongly over the coming years, along with infrastructure investment through public-private partnerships of various kinds, says Finance Minister Trevor Manuel.

The government recently announced massive five-year investment plans for state-owned enterprises in energy and transport, saying it was looking to these sectors to attract foreign investment and boost economic growth.

Delivering his Budget speech in Parliament on Wednesday, Manuel said that significant projects to be undertaken included:

• Investment of some R27-billion in electricity transmission and distribution networks over the next five years.

• Transnet's R4.9-billion locomotive and wagon fleet renewal and modernisation programme.

• Completion of the Port of Ngqura in the Eastern Cape.

• The Berg River Water Scheme in the Western Cape and further development of the Olifants River and Groot Letaba River dam systems in Mpumalanga.

• Recommissioning of the Camden, Komati and Grootvlei power plants in Mpumalanga, and upgrading of the Matimba plant in Limpopo.

• Construction of a hydroelectric pumped storage scheme at Braamhoek on the border between the Free State and Kwazulu-Natal, and two coastal gas turbine plants.

• Building of a demonstration plant by the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor company.

• Upgrading of the coal link line to Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal, and of the link between Sishen in the Northern Cape and Saldanha in the Western Cape.

• A new container terminal for Durban and port capacity expansion in Cape Town, Richards Bay and Saldanha.

• The building of a new multi-purpose Durban-Johannesburg-Pretoria fuel product pipeline.

	President Thabo Mbeki and Coega Development Corporation CEO Pepi Silinga on a site visit. Behind them is a concrete dolosse wavebreaker - a South African invention - painted the colours of the SA flag (Photo: Coega Development Corporation)

	Coega nets multimillion-rand deal V&A Waterfront stake for sale Three power stations to re-open Five bidders for new power plants SA to invest billions in upgrade Infrastructure Key sectors State-owned enterprises Coega IDZ and deepwater port Investment opportunities South Africa's National Treasury

	National Budget 2005/06  National Treasury  Business Day: Budget 2005  Business Report: Budget 2005  Finance24: Budget 2005  SABCnews.com: Budget 2005  Grant Thornton: Budget 2005  Dept of Public Enterprises

BUDGET 2005/06 Manuel delivers upbeat Budget Economic growth forecast at 4.3% Trevor gives us a break Tax relief for small business Infrastructure projects to take off Finance boost for small farmers Boost for police, courts, prisons R2bn for new housing strategy R1bn for training colleges Social security grants increased

Infrastructure photo gallery Transport, energy, telecommunications: South Africa has the infrastructure of a fully developed country.