Walvis Bay focuses on full corridor ecosystem

Ongoing investment in Namibia’s ports and transport corridors is strengthening the country’s position as a regional logistics gateway for landlocked markets such as Botswana, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. “The investment pipeline is arguably the most exciting it has been in Namport’s history,” said Elias Mwenyo, executive for commercial services at the Namibian Port Authority (Namport). At Walvis Bay, the expansion of container handling capacity has been the defining infrastructure milestone of the past five years. New container terminal berths, expanded stacking areas and upgraded handling equipment have significantly increased throughput capacity and improved productivity. “This investment alone has changed the competitive calculus for shipping lines and freight operators evaluating gateway options,” said Mwenyo. At the Port of Lüderitz, Namport is preparing for opportunities linked to Namibia’s emerging oil and gas sector, which is positioning the southern port as a potential offshore logistics hub and supply base. Infrastructure planning is already under way, with Namport engaging government, oil and gas operators and the broader supply chain to ensure the necessary capacity is in place when production begins. Beyond the ports themselves, corridor road upgrades, dry port developments and cross-border infrastructure investments are helping to improve Namibia’s logistics competitiveness. “The infrastructure story is not just about Walvis Bay. It is about the full corridor ecosystem, and that system is materially stronger today than it was a decade ago,” said Mwenyo. Despite the progress, he said several structural challenges remained. Rail connectivity continues to lag freight demand, resulting in a heavy reliance on road transport and increased logistics costs. “Unlocking the full potential of the Trans-Kalahari, Trans- Caprivi and Trans-Cunene corridors requires a deliberate shift towards multimodal integration,” he said. Border efficiency and regulatory harmonisation across corridor partner countries also remain challenges. “Accelerating single- window systems, risk-based inspection models and 24-hour border operations is not optional; they are competitive imperatives.” Mwenyo said high logistics costs, driven by fuel prices, road tolls, inefficient cargo consolidation and limited backloading opportunities, continued to affect regional competitiveness. Nevertheless, he believes Namibia’s logistics strategy is gaining traction. “Walvis Bay is not trying to be Durban or Dar es Salaam. We are a different proposition and our competitive advantage lies in being precisely that.” LV