Chairperson, the more than R9 billion investment in the dedicated oil and gas terminal in Saldanha Bay is a product of Operation Phakisa, which was an attempt to bring in the methodology of big and fast results from Malaysia. The first exercise was in terms of the ocean economy.
This exercise identified the potential to increase the contribution of the ocean economy to the gross domestic product, GDP, from the current R54 billion and 316 000 jobs to R177 billion - more than three times - with 800 000 to 1 million jobs. Within that, and within the exercise of Operation Phakisa, we reached an understanding that terminals that are devoted to the servicing of oil and gas rigs can yield significant returns in terms of jobs, income to the country and, in fact, much more than simply servicing vessels that come in to move exports and imports into the country. That was the basis of the decision that we reached in Operation Phakisa - that we need to make that investment in Saldanha Bay.
Let me say that the Department of Trade and Industry, DTI, is committed to working to make that particular special economic zone, SEZ, a success; to address any problems, including the ones mentioned by hon Koornhof, and also to make many other developmental issues a success.
We know that there are oil and gas activities taking place along the west coast of Africa, and Saldanha Bay is well positioned to gain advantage from that. There are also oil and gas activities on the east coast. We are working to identify, for example, Richards Bay, which has been seen as a potential area for the servicing of vessels. So, we are looking to develop another facility to service the oil and gas industry on the east coast. I am sure that this is a very, very significant investment that will yield important results in the future. Thank you very much.