Rail operators put on the spot by port development

With the

Maputo port

approach

channel

dredged and work on the

quays progressing well

the focus and pressure

is on the rail utilities to

match the investment

and commitment of the

Maputo Port Development

Company (MPDC).

“We

know that

dredging

is not the

magic

solution

to reach

our

strategic

goal to

handle 40

million

tons by

2020,”

said

MPDC

chief executive officer

Osório Lucas at the recent

official ceremony to mark

the completion of the

dredging of the approach

channel to 14 metres.

“Dredging is the lever of

this goal, but it needs the

driving force of the entire

logistics chain to function.

“Port and railway

infrastructure have to

be aligned in pursuit of

this strategy. It will not

be possible to increase

the volume by road. It is

essential that we continue

working with CFM (the

state-owned rail operator)

to increase the capacity of

the Ressano Garcia line,”

he said.

The call was echoed by

Mozambican transport and

communication minister

Carlos Mesquita.

Rail has to “reverse

the current scenario in

which bulk cargo is being

transported

by road,

resulting in

endless lines of

trucks causing

congestion and

other negative

impacts on

the port of

Maputo,” he

said.

“It is vital

that the railway

sector mobilises

logistics and

infrastructure

to cater for the cargo

volumes that will be

handled in the port in the

very near future.

“There cannot be growth

accompanied by wear and

tear of our roads which

endangers the movement of

people and goods.

“We can only achieve

sustainable growth if

we focus on

the balance

between

road and rail

transport,

lowering costs

throughout

the chain.

“There is

also an urgent

need for a

joint business

plan which

joins port

and railway

efforts,” he said.

MPDC chairperson and

the executive director and

chief executive officer of

Grindrod, Alan Olivier,

said “there must be

emphasis on integrating

the port and railway to

support sustainable growth

for both the port and the

region.

“The port will never

achieve the planned 40

million tons without

the necessary rail

infrastructure upgrades

to support the growth,” he

said at the ceremony.

“It is crucial that bulk

demand to meet the

Capesize vessel capacity

in the port of Maputo

be serviced by efficient

and cost-effective rail

services on the corridor,

and we intend facilitating

a meeting of road and rail

transporters to look at

what can be done,” said

Barbara Mommen, chief

executive officer of the

Maputo Corridor Logistics

Initiative.

The newly appointed

chairperson of

Mozambican state rail

company CFM, Miguel

Matabele, came under

pressure in the post-event

news conference.

Journalists picked up

on the references to rail

in the speeches and asked

him when CFM would be

matching the port.

“We have started

negotiating with Transnet

and are working with the

MPDC in Maputo,” he

said, adding that the rail

authorities were aware of

the need to modernise and

improve efficiencies to

match that of the port.

Raising the possibility

of a joint venture between

CFM and Transnet, he said

“we have to find a way to

invest in rail infrastructure

and equipment”.

Lucas pointed out that

there was a mismatch

between the Maputo and

Matola terminals on either

side of the river.

More than 70% of the

coal and magnetite being

exported through Matola

arrives by rail, while in

Maputo some 85% of the

ore handled is transported

by road.

INSERT AND CAPTION

Rail has to reverse

the current scenario

in which bulk cargo is

being transported by

road.

– Carlos Mesquita

INSERT

We have started

negotiating with

Transnet and are

working with the

MPDC in Maputo.

– Miguel Matabele