PORTS, TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS SECTOR NEWS ROUND-UP, 11/2019 (20 MAY – 7 JUNE 2019)
In light of the rapid pace of infrastructure and transport developments across Africa, our Ports, Transport and Logistics (PTL) Sector Group is pleased to present Bowmans’ latest PTL news round-up. Our regular round-ups bring you a selection of pan-African PTL-related stories and keep you up to date regarding developments in the space across Africa.
We draw on a network of multi-disciplinary experts across Africa in fields as diverse as project finance, construction and environmental law, to keep you in the know about developments and thought leadership in the PTL space.
As the articles to which we refer readers are, unless stated otherwise, neither written nor edited by ourselves and appear in their original form, we mention that by publishing them Bowmans does not necessarily agree with opinions expressed in those articles.
This edition includes news headlines and links to articles from a variety of sources, covering stories from Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia
For more information, please feel free to contact a lawyer in our Ports, Transport and Logistics (PTL) Sector Group.
Rosy future predicted for Tanzanian Lakes Victoria and Tanganyika (Tanzania)
Source: Africa Ports (7 June 2019)
Waterborne trade on Africa’s Great Lakes is seeing a turnaround with increased volumes and similar improvement in revenue. Read the full article here.
AU forges ahead with AfCFTA operational phase
Source: Africa Ports (7 June 2019)
The establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) can be a game-changer for the local economy, providing a massive market for South African goods and services, says newly appointed Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel. Read the full article here.
SA road transport ‘not looking good’ – Mike Schussler (South Africa)
Source: FTW Online (6 June 2019)
Since transport vigilantes had started torching trucks on leading roads at least 1 400 trucks had either been burnt or shot at, economist Mike Schussler told delegates attending the Transport Forum in Johannesburg earlier today. Read the full article here.
Angola commences licensing high-potential blocks in Namibe and Benguela (Angola)
Source: Africa Ports (6 June 2019)
Angola has stepped up efforts to becoming Africa’s hottest oil & gas frontier by launching the first phase of its new six-year oil licensing strategy. Read the full article here.
Dream peddling of Belt and Road
Source: Port Strategy (5 June 2019)
China has turned down the rhetoric on its global ‘connector’ scheme to overcome criticism of the project’s intentions. Stevie Knight reports on the latest strategy. Read the full article here.
Tazara hopes for new traction after Dar meeting (Tanzania and Zambia)
Source: FTW Online (5 June 2019)
The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (Tazara) has decided to institute several initiatives to resuscitate flagging freight volumes on the line running south east from Dar es Salaam into Zambia. Read the full article here.
Transnet announces Tambo Springs Intermodal Terminal Preferred Bidder (South Africa)
Source: Transnet (5 June 2019)
Transnet SOC Ltd and Southern Palace Joint Venture Consortium today announced a historic public and private sector partnership for a twenty-year concession for the construction of the Tambo Springs Intermodal Terminal in Gauteng. Read the full article here.
New survey craft boosts Transnet dredging fleet (South Africa)
Source: Transnet National Ports Authority (4 June 2019)
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has taken delivery of a new survey craft as the latest acquisition in its Dredging Services division’s ongoing fleet replacement programme in excess of R2 billion. The vessel, valued at approximately R1.5 million, was built by a local company in Durban. Read the full article here.
Repeat win for Port of Durban at World Travel Awards 2019 (South Africa)
Source: Transnet National Ports Authority (3 June 2019)
The Port of Durban, operated by Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), has once again scooped the prestigious title of Africa’s Leading Cruise Port at the World Travel Awards. Read the full media release here.
Also reported in the Africa Ports article titled 'Port of Durban cruise prospects promising' here.
As AfCFTA comes into effect, questions arise about its ability to bring change
Source: Africa Ports (3 June 2019)
Will Africa become a victim of what is a mounting trade war between the United States and China? Read the full article here.
Richards Bay storage facility to bolster reliability of LPG supply (South Africa)
Source: Creamer Media’s Engineering News (31 May 2019)
Bulk liquid storage operator Bidvest Tank Terminals’ (BTT’s) ZAR 1 billion mounded liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage facility in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, is set to house the largest tanks in the world and is expected to greatly enhance LPG supply in Southern Africa once completed, the company has indicated. Read the full article here.
Bowmans comment: Bowmans were closely involved in advising Petredec, the user of the facility, on the legal and governance issues arising under the project.
Dormant Lüderitz Bay line being resuscitated (Namibia and South Africa)
Source: FTW Online (31 May 2019)
Trains will soon start running regularly on the Lüderitz line from the Northern Cape, says TransNamib chief executive officer Johny Smith. Read the full article here.
New Inhaca Island ferry enters service at Maputo (Mozambique)
Source: Africa Ports (31 May 2019)
Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi has inaugurated a new ferry for the Maputo harbour – Inhaca Island service. The ferry will operate from the port to Inhaca Island, which lies opposite the city of Maputo at a distance of about 25 miles and which relies on boating services for a passenger and cargo service. Read the full article here.
New Minister of Transport appointed (South Africa)
Source: Department of Transport (30 May 2019)
Mr Fikile Mbalula was appointed as Minister of Transport on 30 May 2019. Read more about the Minister here.
Tragedy in the DRC as passenger ferry sinks on Lake Mai-Ndombe (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Source: Africa Ports (29 May 2019)
At least 30 people are confirmed to have died and between 150 and 200 remain missing after a passenger-carrying ferry capsized and sank in Lake Mai-Ndombe in the western Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Read the full article here.
Milestone for stakeholders as Kenya Revenue Authority signs transshipment SOPs (Kenya)
Source Africa Ports (29 May 2019)
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) together with Kenya Ports Authority and Kenya Shipping Agents Association, have signed a transshipment Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) charter with shipping stakeholders at the Kenyan port of Mombasa. Read the full article here.
Rehab of Durban Dry Dock inner caisson underway, reports TNPA (South Africa)
Source: Africa Ports (28 May 2019)
Transnet National Ports Authority, Port of Durban reports that the rehabilitation of the inner caisson, which divides the Port of Durban’s Prince Edward Graving Dock into two compartments, enabling two smaller vessels to be docked simultaneously, is in full swing. Read the full article here. Also reported in the FTW Online article titled 'Durban dry dock restoration in full swing' here.
Tanzania's China-backed USD 10 billion port plan stalls over terms – official (Tanzania)
Source: Reuters (23 May 2019)
A planned $10 billion port project in Tanzania backed by China has hit an impasse, with the two sides disagreeing on terms of the infrastructure investment, a senior Tanzanian port official said on Wednesday. Read the full article here.
Crackdown on ferries and boats on Lake Victoria (Kenya)
Source: Africa Ports (23 May 2019)
Authorities have begun cracking down on ferries and boats that are used to transport people and their belongings across sections of Lake Victoria. Read the full article here.
Ethiopia-Djibouti railway partially re-opens after derailment (Ethiopia and Djibouti)
Source: Africa Ports (23 May 2019)
Three weeks after a serious derailment in the East Showa Zone of the Oromia Regional State, the Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway has partially resumed operations but with restrictions including no passenger traffic. Read the full article here.
Growing Blue conference on Blue Economy starts today in Maputo (Mozambique)
Source: Africa Ports (23 May 2019)
Heads of state, government officials from various countries and representatives from international organisations will be in Maputo for today and tomorrow (23 and 24 May) to participate in the ‘Growing Blue’ international blue economy conference being held in the Mozambique capital. Read the full article here.
APMT Africa Terminal Prepares for Huge Upgrade (Nigeria)
Source: Port Technology (22 May 2019)
APM Terminals (APMT) has announced the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT), Port of Onne, has invested in two new mobile harbor cranes (MHCs) from Liebherr, as it looks to handle increasing regional growth in container traffic. Read the full article here.
No indication when deepening of Durban's DCT North Quay might go ahead (South Africa)
Source: Africa Ports (22 May 2019)
There is still no indication concerning when construction of the deepened, lengthened and widened North Quay berths at Durban Container Terminal will go ahead, after work was halted and the contract cancelled barely a month into startup in September/October 2018. Read the full article here.
Transnet’s Berth Deepening Contract Update (South Africa)
Source: Transnet (21 May 2019)
On 29 July 2018, Transnet awarded the main marine package of the Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Berth Deepening project to create deeper berths at the DCT’s North Quay to CMI Emtateni Joint Venture.
Read the full Press Statement here. Also reported in the Africa Ports article of 5 June 2019 titled 'Durban Container Terminal berth deepening contract formally cancelled' here.
Boat tragedy on Lake Albert leaves more than 30 dead (Uganda)
Source: Africa Ports (21 May 2019)
A passenger-carrying boat with over 50 people on board has capsized and sunk on Lake Albert leaving more than 30 people dead. Read the full article here.
Second intra-Africa trade fair organisers set ambitious trade deal target
Source: FTW Online (21 May 2019)
Trade deals worth USD 40 billion will be targeted at the second Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2020), scheduled to take place in Kigali, Rwanda in September next year.
Read the full article here.
Chevron walks away from Anadarko purchase (Mozambique)
Source: Africa Ports (20 May 2019)
US oil and energy giant Chevron is no longer interested in a bidding war with Occidental Petroleum for Anadarko Petroleum, the company has announced. Read the full article here.
Ghana's president intercedes in Tema port dispute (Ghana)
Source: Africa Ports (20 May 2019)
Ghana’s president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addohas become involved in the dispute between Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (GPHA) and other stakeholders over the Tema Port Expansion project. The president took part in a closed-door meeting with the relevant parties seeking a resolution between them, according to a report in the Ghanaian Times. Read the full article here.
First container park opens to boost township economy (South Africa)
Source: FTW Online (20 May 2019)
The first of five container parks, earmarked to boost township enterprises, was officially opened over the weekend by Free State MEC for Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Limakatso Mahasa. Read the full article here.
SMEs now have access to financing their containerised shipments
Source: FTW Online (20 May 2019)
Maersk Trade Finance has launched a new digital trade finance solution to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) to finance their containerised shipments. Read the full article here.
Davies laments exclusion as he leaves for swansong trip (South Africa)
Source: FTW Online (20 May 2019)
Port and rail charges, and the escalating cost of electricity have been identified by trade and industry minister Dr Rob Davies as the most threatening challenges to escalated multi-lateral trade. Read the full article here.