Construction is under way on a number of new port gateways across the African continent. Transnet’s projected investment of R100 billion in the Port of Durban is the continent’s biggest port expansion at present. The state-owned entity has shortlisted potential private-sector partners for the Durban expansion.Transnet CEO Pepi Silinga said the Durban Ports Development Master Plan had 15 phases.They are: cruise terminal; automotive terminal; entrance channel widening and deepening; point container terminal; multipurpose terminal; Pier 2 berth deepening; SACD site for container storage; Bayhead and Langeberg roads upgrade; Maydon Wharf channel deepening; dry dock; Maydon Wharf container terminal; SA Navy Satellite Station; second access road; Island View Dig Out; and Pier 1 container terminal expansion.There is a projected eight- to 10-year timeline for trebling port capacity from three to 11.2 million TEUs.A similar budget has been allocated to the El Hamdania Port Development in Algeria, which is estimated to be the biggest African port development to have broken ground in the past year.It will be the country’s first deep-water port, and is designed for 6.5m TEUs and 27.5m tons of general cargo a year. The port is being developed through a public-private partnership with Chinese Harbour Engineering and China State Construction Engineering Corporation. The next-largest is the R30bn Dakhla Atlantic deepwater port complex on Morocco’s Atlantic coastline, which aims to create a more efficient link between Africa and Europe to complement Ta ng ier.It will initially have a capacity of a million TEUs a year when it comes on stream in 2029. The port will be able to handle five million tons of oil a year as well.An industrial-logistics zone of 1 650 hectares will be built to support the port.Construction by Moroccan companies SGTM and Somagec Sud started in 2021. Another R30bn development is Barra do Dande by Angola’s national oil company, Sonangol. Situated around 60km from Luanda, it will unlock plans for a special economic zone and will include solid and liquid bulk terminals, a container terminal, a multi-use terminal and petroleum support zone. Another economic zone-linked development is the R23bn Ain-Sokhna port docks and new berths development affiliated with Egypt’s Suez Canal Economic Zone.It is located in the Red Sea and serves trade movement between south and east Asia, south and west Europe as well as north Africa. Construction commenced in January, and includes a 14km internal road and 10km railway, which will be linked to the Ain Sokhna–Alamein City high-speed passenger and freight railway.The last of the billion-dollar (R18bn) developments is the Ndayane Yenne Port, which is a joint project by the government of Senegal and DP World.Situated 50km from the Port of Dakar, it will be implemented in two phases.Phase 1 consists of a container terminal with 840 metres of quays and a 5km marine channel. Phase 2 will see the expansion of the container quay by 410 metres.
