$250m to be invested in Maputo Port over next five years

The extension of the public
private partnership concession
to operate the port of Maputo
has signalled the start of a new
wave of investment that paves the
way to volumes of up to a million
TEUs a year and 16 million tons of
breakbulk.
That’s the confident prediction of
Jorge Ferraz, chief executive officer
of the port of Maputo.
Over US$250-million is expected
to be invested in the port over the
next five years on extensions to
the coal, vehicle and container
terminals, as well as the dredging of
the channel and harbour, which has
already started.
Under the masterplan for the port,
nearly half of the proposed capital
expenditure up to 2030 will be
invested in upgrading existing quays
and building three new 15-metredeep
berths for the container and
Maputo cargo terminals.
The Portus Indico concession to
operate the port as a public private
partnership now runs to 2033, with
an option to extend it.
Shares in the Maputo Port
Development Company (MPDC)
are held by the government-owned
Mozambique Ports and Railways
(49%), and the remainder by
the Portus Indico partnership.
Shareholders in the partnership are
DP World and Grindrod (48.5%
each), and Mozambique Gestors
SARL (the remaining 3%).
“It is all positive, and it is exciting
times for the port,” he told FTW in
Maputo.
Shipping lines have identified the
opportunities, and more are now
calling on the port – with additional
services expected as volumes grow,
he says.
Ferraz – together with others
involved in the management of
the port – is quick to say that “we
are not in competition with South
African ports”. The region, he
believes, needs more capacity if it is
to grow economically.
South African ports will not be
able to meet the demand.
“The time for Southern Africa is
now,” he says. With container traffic
alone growing by 20% to 25% a
year, the region needs Maputo,
which at present has under-utilised
rail, road and port infrastructure.
Dubai World and Grindrod,
through their investment in the port,
show that they share the optimism,
he says.
Container volumes are expected
to reach 190 000 next year, with
plans in place to accommodate up to
a million a year in the future.
Exports of coal, nickel and ferrous
ores are expected to reach 40 million
tons a year “within the next five to
six years,” he says.
An investment of R6-million in
the coal terminal by Grindrod will
see it able to handle 16 million
tons a year, with further expansion
planned to meet additional demand.