Capital projects will keep Durban buzzing

The number of capital projects necessary to upgrade and maintain infrastructure in South and southern Africa is good news for the Port of Durban and the local economy, says Mark Snowball, managing director of RFB Logistics. “It will be an ongoing source of work as a great deal of it is imported through here. The country is still very dependent on Durban for export trade as well so obviously the workflow is ongoing for us and we are well placed to carry it out,” says Snowball. “Our group, Onelogix, is presently in the process of sourcing, purchasing and developing a large facility in Durban to gear up for our planned expansion in the coming months,” he told FTW. “The finance is already in place for the rolling stock and our staff have been prepared, so we are all ready to make this expansion happen.” As the gateway to Africa, Durban has been kind to the company, says Snowball, providing a constant stream of goods to transport whether destined for “just down the road or deepest, darkest Africa”. “At RFB we have been able to get a slice of the action and this has enabled us to manage the peaks and troughs of economic cycles a lot easier,” he said. Port congestion has however become increasingly problematic. The answer, he believes, lies in the port authorities, city planning and industry associations working together to address the issue. “I believe all parties concerned have to get around the table in earnest and find solutions.”