Feasibility studies ensure constant improvement on Walvis corridors

The Walvis Bay Corridor
Group (WBCG) is changing
the mindset of both
importers and exporters about
the benefits of using the Port of
Walvis Bay.
Ongoing information sessions
as well as the establishment
of a branch office in Gauteng
are paying off as importers and
exporters increasingly become
more aware of the advantages –
savings in travel distance and time
translating ultimately into savings
across the whole supply chain.
Agnetha Mouton, WBCG
business development officer,
says it remains a challenge to
change perceptions.
The WBCG, a public private
partnership, aims to increase
the utilisation not only of the
three corridors it serves through
the port of Walvis Bay – the
TransKalahari, the TransCaprivi
and the TransCunene.
“We have seen some major
developments in recent months,”
says Mouton. “This includes
several feasibility studies that have
been conducted and concluded as
well as a major port expansion
project that will see us increasing
the port capacity from the current
200 000 TEUs per year to
500 000 per annum.”
The conclusions of a feasibility
study around a one-stop border
post between Trans Kalahari
and Mamuno border posts were
presented to the governments of
Namibia and Botswana recently,
as was a proposal for a corridor
performance management system.
“A feasibility study is also in
progress regarding the extension
of the railway lines along the
TransKalahari Corridor. A separate
study has been completed on the
upgrade of the Okavango River/
Divundu Bridge which proposes
increasing the carrying capacity of
the bridge from its present 60 tons
and widening it from a single to a
double lane bridge.”
Mouton says all of this
continues to show importers
and exporters the commitment
of the WBCG to the corridors
and the port. “We have more
direct shipping lines calling
from Europe, North and South
America, the Middle East, the
Far East and Africa, which also
results in increased opportunity
for importers and exporters.
There is no doubt that the Walvis
Bay Corridors provide an ideal
opportunity to add economic
value to countries like Angola,
Botswana, the DRC, Zambia,
Zimbabwe and South Africa.”