Namport looks for partners for expansion

There are opportunities
for companies to join the
Namibian Port Authority
(Namport) in public private
partnerships to help realise the
vision of transforming Walvis
Bay into the South African
Development
Community
(SADC) gateway
of choice, says
Namport port
engineer Elzevir
Gelderbloem.
“Except for
Phase 1 of the
development of
the new north or
SADC port we
just want to be
the landlord.
“We as a port authority
simply don’t have the resources
to continue investing in the
port ourselves. Public private
partnerships are the answer.
“What we are saying to the
private sector is that, if you have
an idea and think you have a
business case, then come and talk
to us,” he says.
This is in line with the
Namibian government’s Public
Private Partnership (PPP) policy.
The policy document states:
“The aim
of PPP is to
deliver improved
services and
better value for
money primarily
through
appropriate
risk transfer,
encouraging
greater
innovation,
asset utilisation
and an integrated project – life
management, underpinned by
private financing.”
Namport is nearing completion
of Phase 1 of the SADC port,
which is the building of a liquid
bulk terminal that is expected to
act as a catalyst for development
and investment.
In the short term there
are opportunities for the
establishment of additional fuel,
bulk liquid and liquefied gas
storage and distribution facilities.
Around 100 hectares of land
alongside the terminal has been
secured to accommodate more bulk
liquid and “lots more gas” storage
facilities. The new liquid bulk jetty
has been designed to accommodate
a number of pipelines and different
types of liquid bulk, he says.
The market being catered for is
“the whole of SADC”.
Studies are being undertaken
to improve and extend the rail
links between Walvis Bay and
neighbouring countries.
“These facilities need rail to be
sustainable,” he says.
Again this presents an opportunity
for public-private partnerships, says
Gelderbloem.
He also sees opportunities in the
expansion of Walvis Bay’s ship repair
and oil rig servicing sector.
He says private companies are
looking at using large modular
floating docks rather than investing
in fixed graving docks.
“Similar to Singapore, we could be
home to a floating shipyard,” he says.
INSERT AND CAPTION
If you have an idea and
think you have a business
case, then come and talk
to us.
– Elzevir Gelderbloem
CAPTION
The quayside of the existing container terminal in the port of Walvis Bay.