Africa beginning to invest ahead of demand

Develop and invest in Africa’s
ports and the volumes will
automatically follow.
This was the message
from breakbulk specialist Lars
Greiner at the recent Breakbulk
Africa conference in Johannesburg.
“There are some major
developments taking place in Africa
and there are many sceptics,” he said.
“The Port of Lamu is one example
with many saying it is nothing but
a white elephant.
I disagree. It
offers entrance
to Ethiopia and
secondly is an exit
for the oil finds
in Kenya and
Uganda.”
Greiner said
that thanks to the
investments trade
would develop
there.
“In Somalia
there is a port at concept phase that
is also being questioned. It holds the
potential to be a major transhipment
hub in the region and will also
develop trade in the country.”
There should rather be
development in ports than no
development at all, in his view.
In Northern Mozambique where
a port needs to be developed after
major gas finds in the areas of
Pemba and Palma
not much is
happening at the
moment.
“Pemba will
make a viable
port,” said
Greiner. “It
can and should
be developed.
The same is
true of Nacala
which is now
moving towards
finalisation. It is the deepest natural
port in East Africa and a very good
gateway into the hinterland of
Malawi and Zambia.”
There are also investments in
Walvis Bay and Angola and Ghana
along the West coast of the continent
despite the slow economic outlook
for the world.
“Now is the time to invest ahead of
demand,” said Greiner.
Nosipho Siwisa-Damasane, CEO
of the Richards Bay Coal Terminal,
said the South African port of
Ngqura was proof of what could be
achieved if investment was made.
“At the time I was appointed
to help commercialise the port
everyone said it was white elephant,”
she said. “We signed our first
contract with the promise of
100 000 containers and still
it was being heralded as a
white elephant. Twelve
months later we had done
498 000 containers.
Cargo follows ports,”
she said.
Siwisa Damasane
said the tendency
in Africa to not
invest in port infrastructure and
create capacity ahead of demand
was being turned around.
“If one does not do it, it
compromises economies. It is good
to hear that Africa is investing in
ports. Economies
develop
because of
harbours and
not the other
way round,”
she said
INSERT & CAPTION
There are some major
developments taking
place in Africa and there
are many sceptics.
– Lars Greiner