Spoornet deal sets up Maputo as premier export port

Leonard Neill MAPUTO - THE DAY that Spoornet moves its first freight trains across the South African border and on to Maputo, the present 3,2million tons which is moved annually through Mozambique by trains under the banner of that country's CFM organisation will leap to the full available five million tons, and can achieve an expected 15million tons in eight years. This comes in the wake of the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the two countries granting Spoornet the concession to develop a seamless rail link from Gauteng to Maputo. Rui Fonseca, CFM president and chairman of the Board which controls Mozambique's ports and railways, told FTW that contracts had already been signed by his organisation with users for the expected upgrading of the service from Ressano Garcia to Maputo, with granite, coal and containers the main items. The day when Spoornet trains can run seamlessly from South Africa to the ports of Maputo and Matola is now nearing reality, Spoornet chief executive Zandile Jakavula said. A Spoornet technical team will be sent immediately to assess the full requirements of upgrading the line which will cost in the region of R200 million. Spoornet's deal with CFM grants a 15-year concession to a new consortium to be known as the Ressano Garcia Railway Company. It comprises Spoornet International Joint Ventures, NLPI, an international group of companies that focuses on infrastructure investment projects, the South African Infrastructure Fund and Rennies Terminals. Spoornet will pay the Mozambique authorities an estimated US$67,7 million over the 15 year period of the concession. Also under investigation will be the possibility of electrifying the section from Komatipoort to Maputo, but this will be governed by the amount of increased traffic the line will be called on to carry. If everything goes to plan, the interim management will take over from April 1 and the formal start of the concession can be September 1. Mozambique will then become the 18th country on the African continent in which Spoornet has become involved in joint ventures. Others include Ghana, Cameroon, Congo DRC and Uganda. This latest venture will see Maputo once again regaining its position as an important export port for South Africa," said Jakavula. The close proximity of Maputo to the mineral rich Mpumalanga and an efficient transport corridor will result in new mines being developed and traffic volumes increasing through the port."