I nvestments in the Maputo port infrastructure and the container terminal have created “massive opportunities” for logistics companies and importers and exporters in the region it serves, says Tejas Nataraj, CEO of DP World Maputo. “Our strategy is to change the landscape of southern Africa shipping to the benefit of all. “The vision is for Maputo to become the shipping hub for the region, providing shorter logistical connections and lower total supply chain costs,” he says. Following the dredging of the approach channel and basins and the upgrading of the container terminal, the next step in the realisation of this vision is the development of a “logistics ecosystem” which includes warehousing, trucking, depots, distribution centres and cold storage. “This ecosystem and its development will not only benefit the people of southern Africa by helping to lower the cost of goods by reducing the total logistical cost, but it will also create thousands of jobs through many affiliated business opportunities. “This is important for the economic development of the southern African region, as the population should not have to bear the cost of inefficiency which is primarily due to a lack of competitive alternatives,” he says. Recent investments by DP World in the Maputo container terminal include the refurbishment of 10 hectares of yard, the addition of 1.5 kilometres of rail siding and the introduction of a rubber-tyred gantry operation. By the end of the year the terminal capacity will have more than doubled from 150 000-350 000 TEUs. “The terminal has been redesigned and continues to expand, to not only accommodate the immediate market of Mozambique, but to also offer a much-needed alternative for the greater hinterland market of southern Africa (South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana),” he says. The investments by DP World Maputo and the Maputo Port Development Company give importers and exporters their first “truly competitive” supply chain options in a long time, he believes. “The next step is to refurbish and extend the current quay to 655m, with a 16m draught. Three new ship-to-shore gantry cranes will be deployed, bringing the capacity to a million TEU by 2022,” says Nataraj.
INSERT with IMAGE The terminal has been redesigned to offer a much-needed alternative for the greater hinterland market of southern Africa . – Tejas Nataraj
