SDV to open container dry port near Luanda

Within the next three months SDV will open a new container dry port 5km from Luanda – one of a range of initiatives by the logistics major to streamline transport operations in this fast-growing market. “We see it as a win-win solution for shipping lines, importers and logistics companies involved in Angola,” says SDV’s Johannesburgbased regional managing director Philippe Deneve. Dedicated to full import containers, the 150 000 m2 facility is expected to go a long way in helping to ease port congestion in Luanda. “The only other dry port is 40km from the port, so we’re not in competition but rather offering a totally new alternative.” SDV has been involved in Angola for more than 50 years, but the past three years have been a period of huge growth, with the company expanding from a staff of 250 to more than 700. “We have strong teams in Luanda, Lobito, Soyo and Cabinda and are looking to open an office in Namibe,” says Deneve. General cargo and logistics in the oil industry are the two focus markets, with project cargo one of the company’s specialist competencies in Angola. “In Soyo, for example, we are in charge of the logistics of the LNG project for the construction of a gas factory that will be the biggest in Africa.” The country is clearly alive with possibilities, but it’s not without challenges, chief among these the infrastructure shortfalls for sea and road transport as a result of exceptional growth over the past few years. “Luanda is always congested,” says Deneve. “And there are big traffic jams all day every day in Luanda. While in other countries we can make four or five trips with a truck per day, in Luanda it’s one trip and when we make two we are very happy.” This obviously adds to the transport costs and the challenge is to find solutions to making more trucks available. “Putting more trucks on the road merely exacerbates the problem so streamlining activities is the way to go and one of these, for example, is to transport as many containers as possible at night from the container terminal to final destinations.” A few months ago SDV did a trial run using Lobito instead of Luanda, but after a few weeks Lobito was just as congested, says Deneve. And while a new port close to Luanda is on the planning boards, this will take some time because it’s a large investment. Looking to the future, SDV is interested in becoming a partner with the port authority if they decide to invite private sector buy-in. “This could be on a BOT (build, operate and transfer) basis, with SDV interested in operating a new port jointly with local partners. But with moves afoot that will ultimately improve productivity in the port and on the roads, Deneve is bullish about the future. “Everything is improving all the time. “The new dry port will help to improve productivity at Luanda by providing a dedicated new facility outside the port and making more space available for working inside the port. “The road infrastructure too is better now than it was two years ago and will continue to improve as huge amounts are being invested by the government. “If traffic jams are reduced it will be easier for us to improve our productivity and to transport four or five containers a day instead of one – and that will impact on transport costs which are currently far too high.” It’s a country with enormous potential, says Deneve. “Today it has a higher level of oil production than Nigeria and could be the first producer of oil in Africa – and there are also many opportunities in the mining business with diamonds, coal, minerals and the like. “In addition, there’s been renewed interest in agriculture in the Lubango region which was a big agricultural producer many years ago.” As infrastructure shortfalls are addressed, the country’s potential will be fully realised – and companies like SDV will be well positioned to be part of the development of this growth market.