PORTS, TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS SECTOR NEWS ROUND-UP, 21/2019 (21 OCTOBER – 1 NOVEMBER 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.

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 Kenya, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia.

News continues below:

MOU signed for Transnet Intermodal Terminal Facility at Limpopo Eco-Industrial Park (South Africa)
Source: Africa Ports (1 November 2019)
A MOU has been signed between Transnet Freight Rail and Limpopo Eco-Industrial Park which will lead to the development of an Intermodal Terminal Facility located within the park. Read the full article here.

UNCTAD's Review of Maritime Transport 2019 (International)
Source: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (30 October 2019)
World maritime trade lost momentum in 2018 as heightened uncertainty, escalating tariff tensions between the US and China and mounting concerns over other trade policy and political crosscurrents, notably a no-deal Brexit, sent waves through global markets, according to the UN Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) Review of Maritime Transport 2019. Read the full report here.

Orca-1 major gas discovery offshore Mauritania (Mauritania)
Source:Africa Ports (30 October 2019)
On 28 October Kosmos Energy announced from Dallas, Texas, that the Orca-1 exploration well has made a major gas discovery offshore of Mauritania in the Bir Allah area. It is understood that the results continue the 100% success rate from nine wells targeting the inboard gas trend in Mauritania/Senegal. Read the full article here.

Mboweni wants to smooth the flow of cross-border trade (South Africa)
Source: FTW Online (29 October 2019)
Border delays due to inspections and holdups by the South African Revenue Service could be reduced. Read the full article here.

Beira fishing port completes renovation following cyclone damage (Mozambique)
Source: Africa Ports (30 October 2019)
Phase 1 of the renovation and rebuilding of Beira’s fishing port, which was damaged in Cyclone Eline in February 2000, has been completed. Read the full article here.

Four Inland Dry Ports proposed for Mozambique's Manica province (Mozambique)
Source: Africa Ports (30 October 2019)
The president of the Mozambican Manica Provincial Business Council, Samuel Guisado, suggested recently in Chimoio that Manica province in central Mozambique could have four dry inland ports which would help reduce congestion at the port of Beira in neighbouring Sofala province. Read the full article here.

Port of Lamu aims to become East African leader for transhipment (Kenya)
Source: FTW Online (24 October 2019)
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) is looking at upending the balance of power when the first of 32 berths at the new Port of Lamu is taken into commission by President Uhuru Kenyatta in November. Read the full article here.

Russia suggests Industrial Development Zones for Mozambique & Namibia (Mozambique and Namibia)
Source: Africa Ports (29 October 2019)
Russia’s Industry & Trade Minister Denis Manturov said at the recent Russia-Africa Forum that Russia is considering the creation of industrial development zones in Mozambique and Namibia to develop exports to Africa. Read the full article here.

Port of Mombasa to modernise four berths (Kenya)
Source: Africa Ports (29 October 2019)
It has been reported in Kenya that Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) intends to invest US$193 million to modernise four berths at the port of Mombasa.  Read the full article here.

Fred. Olsen's Boudicca becomes first cruise ship to use new Walvis Bay jetty (Namibia)
Source: Africa Ports (29 October 2019)
Fred. Olsen Line’s cruise ship BOUDICCA, became the first passenger ship to make use of the new Walvis Bay Cruise Jetty when she berthed on Sunday, 27 October 2019. Read the full article here.

Rwanda Inland Dry Port inaugurated at Kigali (Rwanda)
Source: Africa Ports (29 October 2019)
Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, has officially inaugurated the Kigali Logistics Platform, Rwanda’s largest inland cargo handling facility as the country bids to become a regional logistics hub. Read the full article here.

Another go-ahead agreement on new port at Lekki (Nigeria)
Source: Africa Ports (29 October 2019)
The on-off development of a new deepwater port at Lekki in Nigeria appears to be back on the agenda, following the announcement last week of agreements reached between the Nigerian authorities, the China Development Bank (CDB) and the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC). Read the full article here.

Chinese firm given ultimatum over construction of Bagamoyo port (Tanzania)
Source: Africa Ports (25 October 2019)
After years of delay and frustration, Tanzania has issued what amounts to a sharp ultimatum to the Chinese partner in a venture involving the Sultanate of Oman aimed at designing and building a deepwater port at Bagamoyo, 75 kms north of Dar es Salaam. Read the full article here.

Kenyan SGR 'Railway to Nowhere' (Kenya)
Source: Africa Ports (25 October 2019)
Despite the Kenya Railways’ standard gauge railway (SGR) extension from Nairobi to Naivasha, some 120 kilometres away, nearing completion, it turns out that the effective end of the railway will be at a station known as Suswa, which is 20km short of Naivasha. Read the full article here.

Rwanda launches new $35m logistics platform (Rwanda)
Source: FTW Online (24 October 2019)
In a move to further modernise the country, Rwandan President, Paul Kagama, this week officially launched a new $35m inland cargo handling facility in Masaka. The facility is expected to ease the trade of goods and cargo, while decreasing waiting time. Read the full article here.

River shipping recommences on White Nile between Sudan & South Sudan (Sudan and South Sudan)
Source: Africa Ports (24 October 2019)
Radio Dabanga has reported from Kosti that river shipping between Sudan and South Sudan resumed on Monday 21 October). Read the full article here.

Transnet officially launches the train with the most wagons (South Africa)
Source: Transnet (24 October 2019)
Transnet SOC Limited today officially launched a 375-wagon manganese train, which is a production train with the most number of wagons in the world. The train runs over a distance of around 861 km, from Sishen to Saldanha and is four kilometers long. Read the full press release here.

Tanzania & Zambia agree to review troubled TAZARA Act (Tanzania and Zambia)
Source:Africa Ports (23 October 2019)
The respective ministers of transport, finance and industry from partner states Tanzania and Zambia who met recently have announced they will sign a bilateral agreement making possible a review of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (Tazara) Act. Read the full article here.

Kenya Ports Authority looks at providing shore power to ships in Mombasa & Lamu (Kenya)
Source: Africa Ports (22 October 2019)
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) is examining the possibility of providing shore power to ships calling at the ports of Mombasa and Lamu. The aim is to reduce CO2 emission levels at these ports, which handle the majority of Kenya’s international shipping. Read the full article here.

Ramaphosa and Gordhan step in to fix port problems (South Africa)
Source: FTW Online (22 October 2019)
President Cyril Ramaphosa and his cabinet have stepped in to address issues of corruption, inefficiencies and staffing at the Port of Durban saying Transnet executives will be summonsed to regular monthly meetings and be held accountable for port operations following a slew of complaints from the transport industry. Read the full article here.

Kenya opens Phase 2 of the Mombasa-inland Standard Gauge Railway (Kenya)
Source: Africa Ports (21 October 2019)
Last week Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta officially opened Phase 2 of his country’s ambitious standard gauge railway (SGR) that extends the line from Nairobi further inland to the Rift Valley town of Naivasha. Read the full article here.

Walvis Bay Waterfront and Marina development plans taking shape (Namibia)
Source: Africa Ports (21 October 2019)
The development of a Waterfront & Marina has been identified as a project through which Namport wants to better combine seaport activities with recreational and tourism activities, albeit through a secure physical barrier between the two. Read the full article here.