Project record
A proposed LNG import terminal at the Port of Richards Bay, being developed by Zululand Energy Terminal, a partnership between Vopak Terminal Durban and Transnet Pipelines. TNPA signed a 25-year terminal-operator agreement in February 2025. A 2030 Phase 1 operating target and an early-to-mid-2028 investment decision were reported in September 2026; Civic Ledger assesses the schedule as high risk because the reported sequence leaves little visible contingency. Financial close and construction commencement were not verified in the public records reviewed by 25 September 2026.
A missing value, contractor or date means no supported figure was present in the cited records reviewed for this page.
Timeline
Append-only status history- Planning · TNPA announced signing a 25-year terminal-operator agreement with Zululand Energy Terminal for an LNG terminal in Richards Bay’s South Dunes precinct.
- Planning · ZET described the agreement as granting rights to develop and operate the proposed LNG import terminal.
- Planning · Webinar coverage reported a November 2026 front-end engineering decision, an early-to-mid-2028 investment decision and a 2030 Phase 1 commercial-operation goal. These are reported future targets, not completed milestones.
Sources and reporting
Linked sources- Gas IPP Procurement Programme: Bid Window 1 overview ↗
- GASIPPPP Bid Window 1 Notice 7: bid registration extension; submission date remains 29 May 2026 ↗
- TNPA signs milestone agreements for Richards Bay South Dunes precinct ↗
- Zululand Energy Terminal: South Africa’s first LNG import terminal ↗
- Transnet transmission infrastructure: Lilly Pipeline capacity information ↗
- South Africa urged to take action as 300 industrial buyers face gas cliff ↗
Source record
Sources and reporting
Linked sources- Gas IPP Procurement Programme: Bid Window 1 overview ↗
- GASIPPPP Bid Window 1 Notice 7: bid registration extension; submission date remains 29 May 2026 ↗
- TNPA signs milestone agreements for Richards Bay South Dunes precinct ↗
- Zululand Energy Terminal: South Africa’s first LNG import terminal ↗
- Transnet transmission infrastructure: Lilly Pipeline capacity information ↗
- South Africa urged to take action as 300 industrial buyers face gas cliff ↗