Maputo offers Swaziland dedicated port usage

WILL LANDLOCKED Swaziland have its own seaport? A Select Parliamentary Committee last week directed relevant government ministries to press ahead with an offer from Mozambique to develop a section of the Port of Maputo for Swazi use. The report argues that a Swazi-specific facility at Maputo Port is vital to offset damage to the nation’s economy caused by perennial congestion at Durban Port. “Swazi goods are delayed for days at Durban,” the report said. The extent of a Swazi section of Maputo Port was not outlined in the report – such as whether the facility would contain customs offices, warehousing and other infrastructure. Of more immediate benefit will be Swaziland’s use of Maputo Port’s petroleum facilities. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed last week by Swaziland’s Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Dumsile Sukati and Mozambique’s Energy Minister Salvador Namburete. The agreement commits the Mozambican National Oil Company PETROMOC to supply fuel to Swaziland. The MOU also put into motion a way for Swaziland to purchase electricity from Mozambique’s EDM starting as early as next year. Swaziland is likely to invest in one of three power generation projects in the country to ensure a continuing supply of electricity. For Swaziland’s proposed seaport, Swaziland Railway would provide service to the Port of Maputo. The railway was built in 1964 to transport iron ore from Swaziland to Maputo for sea transport and subsequently extended its service to Durban.