Operating concessions to private operators are driving port investment in southern Africa.In October 2023, DP World signed a 30-year concession agreement with the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) to operate and modernise the multipurpose Dar es Salaam Port.DP World committed to investing more than $250 million to upgrade the port, which could increase to $1 billion during the concession period, alongside hinterland logistics projects.The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has invited proposals for public private partnerships (PPPs) to operate Lamu Port Container Terminal Berth 1-3, Mombasa Port Berth 11-14 and Mombasa Container Terminal (CT2). The plans have, however, faced opposition from the Taireni Association of Mijikenda. Both of Mozambique’s main ports are run by PPPs. Cornelder de Moçambique has run the port of Beira since 1998. With the extension of its concession to 2033, Cornelder has plans to increase the capacity of the port to 700 000 TEUs a year and enable it to handle 10 000 TEU vessels. The Port of Maputo is run by the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC), a partnership between the Mozambican Railway Company (Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique) and Portus Indico, made up of Grindrod, DP World and local company Mozambique Gestores.The concession runs to 2058 based on a plan to expand the port capacity, along with improved integration with rail.In November 2024, MSC subsidiary Terminal Investment Namibia (TiN), took over the running of the container terminal in the Port of Walvis Bay from Namport.It has made commitments to further upgrade the facilities and the approach channels. Another MSC company, Africa Global Logistics (AGL), has been granted the concession to operate the multipurpose terminal and container facility in the Angolan port of Lobito.AGL has committed €100m ($105m) to modernise the portIn April 2024, the Luanda multipurpose port terminal was concessioned for 20 years to the Abu Dhabi-based AD Ports Group, which will invest $251m to modernise the terminal.DP World is investing $190m to increase annual container capacity in Luanda from 800 000 to 1.2m TEUs. Not all port PPPs are successful. The concession for Portos do Norte SA, a joint venture between Brazilian miner Vale, Japan’s Mitsui and the public company Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique to run the northern Mozambican port of Nacala was not renewed in 2020, and control was returned to the Ports and Railways of Mozambique company (CFM). ER
