PROJECT CARGOSOUTHERN & EAST AFRICA
attract cargo, to build relationships. It is being very progressive and supportive, and I would not be surprised if more and more cargo, originally destined to move through South Africa, ends up moving through Namibian ports.”
Preferred route These views were echoed by Namport business development manager Elias Mwenyo, who confirmed that Namibia wants to be seen as the “preferred route” into Southern Africa for project and breakbulk cargoes, particularly the SADC hinterland. “We offer the project cargo market uncongested roads, the absence of bridges and very few height and weight restrictions and these, together with the efficiency of the Port of Walvis Bay, are helping to attract increased volumes of project cargo through the harbour and along the corridors,” he said. “And when it comes to escorting cargo,
the same rules apply from port to the border. In short, we are committed to encouraging the quick movement of cargo by removing as many bottlenecks as possible and using technology to assist us wherever possible.” The Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG)
is a PPP established to promote the utilisation of the Walvis Bay corridors. According to Johny Smith, chief executive of the group: “The ports and corridors in Namibia are strategically positioned to give the country a competitive position as a transport hub for all regional and international trade between the SADC countries, Europe, the Americas and the rest of the world.” The Trans-Kalahari Corridor links the
Port of Walvis Bay to Gaborone in Botswana and Gauteng in South Africa. From here, the corridor links with the Maputo Corridor on the east coast of Southern Africa. The Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi-Development Corridor accesses landlocked countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Linking ports The Trans-Cunene Corridor extends through northern Namibia into southern Angola while the Trans-Oranje Corridor links the Port of Luderitz with the Northern Cape province of South Africa. In response to increased trade-related
traffic volumes, the Port of Walvis Bay has embarked on an expansion programme to raise container throughput capacity from 355,000 teu to 1 million teu, which is scheduled for 2018. A logistics hub is also planned on the 15 km road between Walvis Bay and the airport.
66 January/February 2017
Gariep Dam, Free State, South Africa – the largest dam in South Africa with a radius of 360 sq km.
Smith added: “The impact of falling oil
prices on the global market has been enormous, with no exception to WBCG, which has experienced a decline in business to Angola as a result. The business is further tested in the DRC market and expansion is hampered by the political instability in the country. Additionally, one of the biggest challenges remains to build more capacity in the transport sector to exploit these opportunities. He added: “As part of our goals for 2017,
we plan to explore different markets in the region such as Malawi and Zimbabwe which exude potential for growth, while working to further expand the Zambian market. In addition, we are leaning towards initiating relations with the international market to gain their confidence and move them towards preferring Walvis Bay as the best alternative trade route.” While growth in project cargo volumes dropped in 2016, compared with 2015, Namibia expects freight volumes to grow again as GDP growth accelerates to about 5 percent in 2017-18.
As part of our goals for 2017, we plan to explore different markets in the region such as Malawi and Zimbabwe which exude potential for growth, while working to further expand the Zambian market. – Johny Smith, Walvis Bay Corridor Group
Mozambique, once the darling of
investors thanks to natural gas and other resources, is currently struggling with inflation, debt and reduced growth prospects. Today it is one of the region’s most indebted countries with a debt-to-GDP ratio that threatens to exceed 100 percent. But all is not lost. Mozambique is
believed to have one of the largest untapped metallurgical coal reserves in the world and the Rovuma basin is said to hold gas reserves that rival Qatar’s. The country is also hoping Italian oil
major Eni will begin work on a USD9 billion floating gas platform off the northern coast. There are other gas projects, including those of Texas based Anadarko Petroleum, but these may take longer.
Infrastructure investment Meanwhile, the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) seems determined to increase the port’s regional competitiveness by investing in infrastructure, equipment and staff, and reducing the cost of using the Maputo transport corridor. The MPDC has partnered with
Kudumba – a Mozambican registered company and a provider of integrated border security solutions as well as general technology-based security services – with the aim of reducing the tariffs applied to various types of cargo such as rice, fish, cement, rock phosphate and project cargoes. Kenya, too, has ambitious plans to attract
cargo to the continent and is China’s nominated African hub for its One Belt, One Road (OBOR) programme. Chinese companies are working on revitalising the
www.heavyliftpfi.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148
