PORTS, TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS SECTOR NEWS ROUND-UP, 16/2020 (31 AUGUST – 11 SEPTEMBER 2020)

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.

The articles to which we refer readers are, unless stated otherwise, neither written nor edited by ourselves and appear in their original form. 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 Botswana, DRC, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

For Coronavirus (Covid-19) related updates from South Africa…

Please see Bowmans’ dedicated ports and shipping web page for details of Covid-19 related regulatory changes, directions and updates in South Africa since 16 March. We also have a page dedicated to aviation regulatory changes, directions and updates.

Other news continues below...

Total to supply Mozambique with all liquid fuel requirements (Mozambique)
Source: Africa Ports (11 September 2020)
The French multinational Total, which heads the consortium with extensive undertakings in the north of the country’s natural gas fields, has been awarded the contract to supply all Mozambique’s liquid fuel requirements six months commencing November. Read the full article here.

Durban port upgrade and expansion project (South Africa)
Source: Creamer Media’s Engineering News (11 September 2020)
Read the full project overview here.

Survey reveals impact of travel restrictions on projects (Botswana, DRC, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe)
Source: Southern Africa’s Freight News by FTW (10 September 2020)
As ‘Covid nationalism’ continues to take hold, with countries doing their level best to protect local jobs, particularly in light of epidemic-related job losses, employees in over-border countries who have identified critical expat personnel should expect greater scrutiny when it comes to issuing of work permits and visas. Read the full article here.

Challenges ahead for TAZARA as targets are not met (Tanzania and Zambia)
Source: Africa Ports (10 September 2020)
After 45 years the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (Tazara) has yet to achieve initial targets of hauling 600,000 tonnes of freight per year along its 1860-km long railway. In the latest figures for the financial year that ended on 30 June 2019, Tazara achieved a high of 362,710 tonnes.Read the full article here. 

Border beat: Covid certificates for SADC cross-border freight compulsory from Monday (DRC, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe)
Source: Southern Africa’s Freight News by FTW (9 September 2020)
It’s official. From this coming Monday, 14 September, transporters working on the North-South Corridor (NSC) linking the Port of Durban with the Copperbelt region of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will require medical certificates declaring their Covid-19 status. Read the full article here.

Wharf talk: Durban port report expanded (South Africa)
Source: Africa Ports (9 September 2020)
Read the full articles here and here.

EAC rolls out tracking system to facilitate free movement of goods (Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda)
Source: Southern Africa’s Freight News by FTW (9 September 2020)
Today saw the official roll-out by the East Africa Community secretariat and its partner states of the Regional Electronic Cargo and Driver Tracking System (RECDTS) from Malaba, the border between Uganda and Kenya, and Mirama Hills-Kagitumba, the border between Uganda and Rwanda. Read the full article here.

Transnet says railway line refurbishment in PE bodes well for business (South Africa)
Source: Creamer Media’s Engineering News (9 September 2020)
State-owned freight utility Transnet says a R10-million refurbishment on a second railway line into the Port of Port Elizabeth’s (PE’s) container terminal is unlocking substantial business potential for the Eastern Cape. Read the full article here.

Foot on the Gas – Developers of Matola LNG terminal intensify talks with potential customers to reach 2023 supply date (Mozambique)
Source: Creamer Media’s Engineering News (9 September 2020)
The front-end engineering design phase for a proposed greenfield liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal at the Port of Matola, in the Mozambican capital of Maputo, is underway and the developers of the project are now intensifying discussions with potential energy and industrial off-takers in both Mozambique and South Africa. Read the full article here.

CDC's Pepi Silinga appointed as new TNPA chief executive officer (South Africa)
Source: Africa Ports (8 September 2020)
Mninawe Pepi Silinga is to be the new chief executive office (CEO) of Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) with effect from 1 October 2020. Read the full article here.

Wharf talk: Cape Town Port Report: Port activity mainly back to normal (South Africa)
Source: Africa Ports (8 September 2020)
Cape Town port manager Mpumi Dweba-Kwetana says that thanks to improvements achieved in the port, she can now advise that the bi-weekly meetings between stakeholders can now be reduced to a single weekly meeting, to be held every Thursday at 09h00. Read the full article here.

Transnet update on the Berth Deepening project at the Port of Durban (South Africa)
Source: Transnet (7 September 2020)
The long-standing issue over the berth deepening project at the Durban Container Terminal Pier 2, North Quay project has taken a new turn with the announcement by Transnet that it has taken the decision to refer the process to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) as part of its existing investigation. Read the full press release here. Also reported by Africa Ports here and by Creamer Media’s Engineering News here. 

Durban’s truck decongestion initiatives make progress (South Africa)
Source: Southern Africa’s Freight News by FTW (7 September 2020)
A statement by Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) at the Port of Durban says the introduction of an off-site truck staffing facility last week by a private bulk terminal in the Island View Precinct has had a noticeable impact on alleviating truck congestion in the Bayhead Precinct and surrounding roads. Read the full article here.

Air cargo continues gradual route to recovery (International)
Source: Southern Africa’s Freight News by FTW (3 September 2020)
The gradual route to recovery to pre-Covid market conditions continued for the global air cargo industry in August for a fourth-consecutive month, according to fresh volume and yield data from industry analysts CLIVE Data Services and TAC Index. Read the full article here.

Earth’s Future: New study models trade growth and port demand (International)
Source: Africa Ports (3 September 2020)
Seaport footprints will need to expand by up to 3,689 square kilometres (1,424 square miles) worldwide in the next three decades to cope with the combination of sea-level rise and rising demand, according to a NEW STUDY published in Earth’s Future, a peer-reviewed scientific journal focusing on climate change and future sustainability. Read the full article here.

Port report: Covid in Cape Town boosts transhipment volumes into SA from Namibia (South Africa and Namibia)
Source: Southern Africa’s Freight News by FTW (2 September 2020)
Although data is still coming through, the Port of Walvis Bay expects to have hard facts soon backing its claim that transhipment cargo into South Africa has not only improved but is steadily increasing. Read the full article here.

Government launches mechanism to improve exports (South Africa)
Source: Southern Africa’s Freight News by FTW (2 September 2020)
Monday saw the official launch by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) of its Export Barriers Monitoring Mechanism (EBMM) which will provide the support needed to continuously improve the country’s export environment. Read the full article here. Also reported by Creamer Media’s Engineering News here.

Wharf talk: Durban Port Bulletin update and Durban Port Volume and Vessel Call Performance (South Africa)
Source: Africa Ports (1 September 2020)
Read the full articles here and here.

Hutchison Ports to build US$730m container terminal in Egypt (Egypt)
Source: Africa Ports (1 September 2020)
Hong Kong’s Hutchison Ports has signed a long-term agreement with the Egyptian Navy on the development and operation of a new container terminal in Abu Qir, Egypt. Read the full article here.

PE port operations manager appointed chair of maritime cluster (South Africa)
Source: Southern Africa’s Freight News by FTW (1 September 2020)
Transnet National Ports Authority has announced that Port of Port Elizabeth senior operations manager Faisal Sultan has been appointed chairperson of the Nelson Mandela Bay Maritime Cluster. Read the full article here.

Wharf talk: Rig platform vessel returns to Mossel Bay (South Africa)
Source: Africa Ports (31 August 2020)
As reported here previously, the oil rig DEEPSEA STAVANGER has returned to South Africa to resumed drilling for gas and oil off the southern coast. Some facts are worth repeating as this event may have significant repercussions for South Africa. Read the full article here. Also reported by Creamer Media’s Engineering News www.engineeringnews.co.za here.

Tanzania resumes rail operations between Port of Tanga and Arusha (Tanzania)
Source: Africa Ports (31 August 2020)
Rail operations between the port city of Tanga and the north-eastern city of Arusha have been reintroduced providing both passenger and cargo services. Read the full article here.

Shearwater receives Mauritanian 3D exploration award from Total (Mauritania)
Source: Africa Ports (31 August 2020)
Shearwater GeoServices Holding AS has been awarded a large towed streamer 3D acquisition and Fast Track processing project by Total E&P Mauritania. Read the full article here.

Tullow lifts its force majeure clause in its Kenya operations (Kenya)
Source: Africa Ports (31 August 2020)
Tullow and its joint venture partners has sent a letter to the Kenya Ministry of Petroleum and Mining, announcing it has withdrawn the notices of Force Majeure declared on 15 May 2020 concerning Blocks 10BB and 13T at Turkana. Read the full article here.