Catering for the dramatic increase in cargo movement

THERE HAS been a dramatic increase
in the movement of cargo over the
past three months with increased
global demand for copper concentrate,
according to Chris Chipimo, who is
based in Ndola in the Copperbelt.
Bridge Zambia is able to handle
20 000 tons of bulk and 12 000 tons
of one ton bags per month, says
Chipimo. “Additional volumes of copper
cathode or blister can be handled
within the depot while operating
within the limits of Bridge’s customs
bond facility. These volumes are subject
to the cargo being delivered into our
facility and the availability of rail and
road transport.”
Cargoes can be received as copper
concentrate, copper cathode, copper
blister or black copper. The copper
concentrate can be received, stored
and dispatched as loose bulk or in
one ton bags while the other copper
commodities can be handled as ingots
or bundles.
Crucial to the export of large
volumes of cargo is the availability of
transport, a staging area and a customs
bond of sufficient magnitude. To this
end, Bridge Shipping Zambia can offer
warehousing in its Ndola facility for a
pre-determined length of time,
says Chipimo.
Additional facilities are available
within the depot, which can be
developed to meet clients’ needs,
he added.
This includes the conversion of
cement slabs (with a combined area
of 5 900 m2) to enclosed warehouses;
procurement of additional equipment
to assist in the shunting of rail
wagons; and refurbishment of
perimeter fencing and additional
security features
Against the background of Zambia’s
economic boom comes an increased
need for security – and Bridge now has
armed personnel and rapid response
teams on site at its depots.
Since last year Bridge has sold off
the fumigation part of its business
to concentrate exclusively on the
transport, freight forwarding and
warehousing of cargo in and out of
Zambia. The Lusaka office handles a lot
of project equipment imports and the
export of agricultural produce such
as tobacco.
Coal is transported by rail from
Dar es Salaam to its offices in Kapiri
Mposhi where it is transhipped to
trucks bound for the mines. Bridge also
tranships from Ndola to the DRC and
from the DRC to Namibia or
South Africa.
The Bridge Group also houses a
trading division that supplies mines
in the surrounding area with a variety
of cargoes, further strengthening
the relationships with local Zambian
operators, he added.