Investments totalling US$838
are planned for the twin ports
of Maputo and Matola by the
Maputo Port Development
Company (MPDC), according to
commercial director Johann Botha.
The MPDC, which is a joint
venture between Grindrod, DP
World Mozambique Gestores and
MPDC has the concession rights
to operate the Port of Maputo to
2033, with an option to extend for
a further 10 years.
Speaking at the annual Port of
Maputo Conference, Botha said
an approved Port Master Plan is
in place to ensure that growth
initiatives are implemented in a
planned and structured manner.
The port is promoting its
geographic strengths, as it is the
closest harbour to Gauteng, as well
as the Limpopo and Mpumalanga
mining regions.
There had been a 260% growth
in volumes passing through the
port between 2003, when the
MPDC first became involved in
managing the port and 2012.
Capacity on the main port of
Maputo would be increased from
the present 12 million tons a year to
20 million tons.
In Matola, the Master Plan
allows for growth from six million
tons to 30 million tons of ore and
coal a year.
This growth is, however,
dependent on improving the rail
infrastructure and capacity on both
sides of the border.
Speaking at the Maputo Port
conference, Rosário Mualeia,
chairman of the board of the
Mozambican CFM railways said
work had started on modernising
the line between Ressano Garcia
and Maputo to cater for a growth
in tonnage from 4.5 million tons a
year to a projected 50 million tons
a year.
Ten new locomotives had been
ordered, with the first set due to
be delivered in the first quarter
of 2014.
Transnet Freight Rail (TFR)
chief executive Siyabonga Gama
told delegates that US$20
million was needed to upgrade
the Ressano Garcia to Maputo
Line, with a further US$50
million in rolling stock.
The deployment of new wagons
and locomotives has already
improved operational efficiency
on the line, he said.
This has been confirmed to FTW
by Barbara Mommen of the Maputo
Corridor Logistics Initiative.
Planned investments in
South Africa to “densify” the
corridor include upgrading the
rail and yard infrastructure,
doubling sections of the track
and electrifying the whole route,
according to Gama.
INSERT 1
Current phase – US$155 million
Infrastructure
New Slab at the Bulk terminal
Interim Sheds in the bulk terminal
New internal rail-lines
TCM Expansion Phase 3.2
MCTL Phase 2 expansion
GML Phase 3 expansion
Berths 1 to 4 rehabilitated (for car carriers and import cargo)
Gate 1 Expansion and road rehabilitation
New MICD Facility
Equipment
12 x new payloaders
2 x ship-loaders (Jan 2014)
Link belts for stockpile area
1 x Ram-revolver
14 x skeletal trailers
New fenders for all berths
Additional tug boat with 65.000 tons bollard pull
INSERT 2
Investments over next two
years – budget US$355 million
Infrastructure
Definitive bulk terminal
Upgrade of berths 6 to 8
Container terminal expansion
Additional yard
New Rail terminal
Additional Jersey barriers to
optimise storage
MCTL Phase 3
New Northern Boundary Road
New Wind & Dust barriers
Equipment
2 x back-actors
2 x Excavators
Tug boat replacement
Pilot boat replacement
Automated cargo systems
INSERT 3
Medium term (3-5 years) – US$328 million
Infrastructure
TCM Conclusion Phase 4
Channel Dredging -14m
Bulk terminal Phase 2
Rehabilitation of arrival/departure rail yard
Internal rail shunting model
DPW berth expansion
Equipment
Ship loaders for Bulk terminal
2 x Back-actors
12 x tractor trailers
24 x skips
