Walvis Bay plans SADC Gateway port

A complete new SADC Gateway port is being planned for Walvis Bay in addition to a new container terminal for the existing port. The SADC Gateway terminal will be built on 1 330 hectares of land to the north of the existing harbour. It will have 10 000 metres of quay walls and jetties and up to 30 large berths, according to Elias Mwenyo, manager of sales and services for the port of Walvis Bay. In comparison, the existing port has 1 500 metres of quay walls. Community (SADC) countries. According to Mwenyo, the need for the port arises from “several mega projects which have surfaced over the past few years and will not be feasible without the SADC Gateway Terminal”. They include a new Trans Kalahari railway line to carry coal exports from Botswana. A R129-billion memorandum of understanding for the development of the line and coal terminal was signed by the governments of Botswana and Namibia in March this year. Other developments are the creation of “mega logistics parks in Namibia” in accordance with the government’s fourth national development plan (NDP4); the emergence of a Namibian crude oil and gas industry; and several largescale mining projects, which will see iron ore, magnetite, granite and “many more” commodities being exported through the gateway. Plans for the new port include the building of a “world class” ship and rig repair yard with an oil and gas supply base; a “huge” under-cover dry bulk terminal capable of handling over 100 million tons of material a year; a vehicle and ro-ro terminal, passenger terminals and additional container berths if needed. It will also have a liquid bulk terminal with very large crude carrier (VLCC) berths, multi-purpose and breakbulk terminals, a small craft harbour, and small boat marinas. Landside links will include new high capacity road and rail links, and pipeline and conveyor links to a bulk storage area behind what is known as “Dune 7”. A heavy industrial park is also planned for the area behind Dune 7. Initial work on the new port is expected to start this year. CAPTION An artist’s impression of the new SADC Gateway port.