‘Planning and forecasting are critical elements for success’

A developing Africa will
continue to be a key
target for the emerging
BRIC (Brazil/Russia/India/
China) countries due to the
continent’s rich mineral wealth
and the insatiable demand for
minerals to fuel their heavy
industry.
“Coupled with the current
increase in exploration and
the development of new
mining projects in East as
well as West Africa by the
world majors, we will see an
increase in project logistic
opportunities for South
African companies,” Richard
Quinton, project development
executive for Multimodal
Logistics Solutions (Multilog),
told FTW.
“South Africans have in the
past been inwardly focused
due to the many capital and
infrastructural development
projects at home, however
with many of these now
drawing to a close it’s all
about finding the opportunity.
The future action is in Africa,
a treasure trove of resources
and commodities and we
should not allow the rest of
the world to capitalise on this
opportunity to our detriment. “
Although, many project
forwarders have in the past
been hesitant to become
involved in projects in
Africa where there is often
no infrastructure, very little
and in some cases even
no specialised equipment
available to lift heavy and
abnormal loads, Quinton
believes this is where the
future lies.
“While the world demand
for Africa’s resources and
commodities remains, we
are likely to see significant
growth in project logistic
opportunities in the mining, oil
and gas sectors for those that
are prepared to venture into
this market.”
A strong focus on intra-
African trade has ensured that
Multilog
can offer a highly efficient
range of services in the
difficult logistical environment
of the African continent.
For a recently completed
mining project the company
effectively transported 63 000
freight tons of cargo to various
points within Africa from other
African ports and ports around
the world within a period of
eight months. This included
the chartering of vessels and
aircraft as well as specialised
land transportation for cargo
from Australia, Singapore,
Malaysia, Jeddah, Europe and
North America.
“Without doubt there are
some major challenges around
project cargo in Africa,” said
Quinton. “If planning and
forecasting are said to be the
most difficult challenges to
conventional supply chains,
then they are doubly so for
local and remote projects.
The special circumstances
of these projects not only
require logistical support
based on excellent levels of
planning but also require high
levels of responsiveness and
flexibility from the supply
chain. Quite simply, when
something unexpected occurs
in projects of scale, or in
remote geography, delivery on
time and on budget can easily
be compromised.”
According to Quinton
response and control during a
project are greatly improved
by three key elements;
customised solutions, detailed
advance planning and
dedicated, experienced on site
personnel.