The Port of Maputo is set to undergo significant structural rehabilitation of berths 3 and 4, which will render these facilities unavailable for at least two years. This extensive overhaul, aimed at modernising and strengthening the ageing infrastructure, marked a pivotal move in the port's development strategy, said Neusa Monjane Saranga, commercial director at the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC).“The rehabilitation will focus on berths 3 and 4, which primarily handle fishing and general cargo at the moment, but are not equipped for heavier products. The project will explore options for accommodating additional commodities once the berths are restored,” she said, indicating the port’s berth 5 would be designated as an alternative during the rehabilitation period.”Although there are no immediate plans to dredge the two berths as part of the rehabilitation process, Saranga noted that accommodating larger vessels remained a key objective for the port. Capital dredging is considered an essential component of the port’s long-term vision.Asked about volumes, she said MPDC had maintained stable cargo volumes over the past few months despite ongoing volatility in the bulk mineral market. “The Chinese market’s volatility has affected demand, particularly for ferrochrome, due to reduced steel production in China. This unpredictability in the Chinese market continues to inf luence global commodity prices and shipping schedules,” she said.According to Saranga, growth and expansion remains a key strategy for MPDC which currently operates 17 berths at the Port of Maputo and in Matola. “With the concession of the Port of Maputo to MPDC now extended to April 2058, our business plan for investment and growth comes into place.”MPDC has been vocal about its plans to invest at least $600 million over the next three years on expanding and rehabilitating port infrastructure. This will see cargo handling capacity at the port increased significantly. In the first phase alone the capacity of the container terminal is expected to be increased to more than 500 000 TEUs per annum, while plans are also in place to improve the capacity of the Matola Coal Terminal from seven million tons per annum to at least 12 million. General bulk cargo capacity is projected to rise from 13 mtpa to 15 million, also in the first phase.MPDC also expects to see cargo handling volumes go from the 31.2 mtpa handled in 2023 to at least 50.9 mtpa by 2058. MPDC’s investment into the port since 2003 has already surpassed the $900 million mark."As a company, we are dedicated to expanding capacity, enhancing turnaround times, and boosting overall efficiency at the port," said Saranga, highlighting the company's strong focus on continuous improvement. "We place significant emphasis on listening to our customers and adapting to their needs to the best of our abilities. Additionally, we invest heavily in technology and systems to ensure the port operates with ma x i mu m ef f icienc y."She said that through collaboration with stakeholders, the port had continued to go from strength to strength, demonstrating its viability as an option for cargo owners. LV
