The increased demand for bulk ore exports from the hinterland, the import of clinker for two cement plants, and the emergence of new bulk cargo warehousing facilities have been good news for the Beira Corridor.Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the corridor has recorded significant growth over the past year, prompting container and general cargo terminal concessionaire, Cornelder de Moçambique (CdM), to embark on an infrastructure investment drive.According to general cargo terminal manager Isaias Gemo, this includes the acquisition of big hoppers, 10 CBM grabs, as well as finalisation of the upgrade of several port warehouses which will expedite the discharge and bagging of bulk cargo within the terminal area.“With these acquisitions, the bagging of fertilisers will occur in the port warehouses as opposed to dockside,” he said. “This operational change will increase the average productivity of 900 tons to 2000 tons per group per day. Furthermore, depending on the cargo condition, it will be possible to achieve 8000 tons per day on a ship that operates in four cargo holds simultaneously.”Gemo said the investments complemented the four 60-ton tractors recently purchased for terminal operations. “Our new equipment will reinforce handling loads such as transformers, various machinery, granites, and other types of heavy materials, thus adding a high standard of efficiency, productivity and reliability to the operations at the Port of Beira.” Parallel with the machinery acquisitions, CdM is implementing a new Terminal Operation System (TOS) at the port, which will boost operational efficiency, including improved operations planning, operations execution, control of cargo movement, and cargo storage within the port facility.While the lump sum of the investment in the bulk cargo terminal will allow a higher throughput at the Port of Beira, the aim is to create significant opportunities for the transport industry, local agents and freight forwarders. "We believe the port investments will have a cascading effect on all other players along the corridor because industries need a feed for a large number of bulk commodities to make their final product. They cannot survive without bulk commodity feed," said Gemo.
