Mozambique’s 2 470-kilometrelong coastline has at least 11 ports, with six capable of handling containers. The mix will change as work on the gas projects in the north begins. An example is Mocimboa da Praia, which does not feature on most maps or lists of ports in Mozambique. It is the closest port to the planned new onshore gas processing facilities, and it has been quietly upgraded over the past few years to the point where it can handle container traffic. At present the major shipping lines focus on Maputo, Beira and Nacala. Beira, according to Captain J. Misra, deputy chairperson of the Mozambican Association of Shipping Lines (Associação das Linhas de Navegação), is the busiest container port by far – and is best geared for container traffic. “Beira is accepting larger vessels, and is handling twice the volume of Maputo and Nacala combined,” he told FTW. Maputo is “working” and has the potential to increase volumes, although there is a chicken and egg situation. Misra points out that the DP World container terminal has only one berth, and has not been dredged to the same depth as the channel. When FTW raised this with the DP World team, they said that expansion plans were in the pipeline, but that future investment would be driven by volumes. Nacala is at present best described as a “mess,” according to Misra. While the coal terminal is working well, two berths have been taken out of service for a US$400-million refurbishment which is being funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica). “The port is losing tonnage out of its natural market in Malawi to Beira due to delays,” he says. There is also some uncertainty over the future management of the port, as the present concession for the operation of the container and general shipping terminals is due for renewal in January 2020. At present Nacala Port is managed by the North Development Corridor (CDN), which was set up by Brazilian mining company Vale. CDN also has the concession to run the North Railway System which connects Nacala to the coalfields (and Vale mine) in the Tete district. “There is a lot of speculation over who is going to take over the port,” he told FTW.
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Beira is handling twice the volume of Maputo and Nacala combined. – Captain J Misra
