Port of Maputo outlines bold expansion plans

Plans are under way at the Port of Maputo to up the capacity at the bulk terminal from its current two million tons to around eight million tons in the future, according to CEO of the Maputo Port Development Company, Dr Osorio Lucas. Expansion of the Matola coal terminal from seven million tons to 15 million tons is just the start of further expansion, he said. “Ultimately we want to see our coal terminal grow to handle around 30 million tons compared to the six or seven million it does at present,” he said. “We need more investments on the landside as terminal and landside storage is close to full capacity. Rail corridors are constrained and major investment is required to unlock the capacity that we need if we are going to be able to cope with the growth in the mineral sector.” Dr Lucas said at present the port was processing around 900 trucks a day with the predicted cargo volume for 2012 being 15 million tons compared to only 5 million tons in 2003.