Doubling up to handle maize

Pressure is building on

the ports of the region to

handle the expected inf lux of

millions of tons

of drought-relief

maize.

With the

big volumes

arriving later

than planned,

the port of Beira

has had to invest

in new equipment

and reconfigure

existing facilities

in order to handle

the expected volumes,

according to commercial

manager Jan de Vries.

Capacity has been doubled

through the conversion of

a transit shed into a bulk

warehouse, the procurement of

material handling equipment

and the addition of a

weighbridge.

Two new materials

handlers

enable the

port to pile

the grain close

to the roof, so

increasing the

capacity of the

warehouse.

Four new portable

bagging units will

enable the port to

bag maize on site for

loading onto f lat beds, while

agricultural harvesters are

being used to load bulk wagons.