PORTS, TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS SECTOR NEWS ROUND-UP, 9/2019 (22 APRIL – 3 MAY 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, Burundi, Comoros, DRC, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda and Zambia.
Bowmans News
Andrew Pike and Trudie Nichols will be attending the Mozambique Ports and Rail Evolution Conference in Maputo on 13 and 14 May 2019. Andrew will chair the session on Ports Spotlights, a series of updates from ports authorities and terminal operators providing insight into challenges and opportunities for ports development and including speakers from Mozambique, South Africa, Kenya, Namibia and Angola. Trudie will chair the session on Boosting Regional Trade, Integration and Connectivity, a subject that she has spoken on extensively in the past.
News continues below…
Good start to the year for Port of Nacala (Mozambique)
Source: Africa Ports (3 May 2019)
While it would appear that the port of Nacala in northern Mozambique has escaped the ravages of Cyclone Kenneth because of it being sufficiently far south of the devastating cyclone, news has been received that the port has experienced an excellent first quarter. Read the full article here.
Ecowas Regional Transport Integration Project gets underway (Nigeria)
Source: Africa Ports (3 May 2019)
Feasibility studies on the Abidjan-Lagos Expressway Project has commenced and the West African Growth Ring Master plan (WAGRM) has been completed. Read the full article here.
South African logistics firm recommends review of bulk liquid terminal tender(South Africa)
Source: Creamer Media’s Engineering News (3 May 2019)
State-owned Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) will recommend to its board that a tender to build and operate a bulk liquid terminal in Durban be reviewed and possibly cancelled, a senior official said. Read the full article here.
Tau Morwe replaced after six months as acting head of Transnet (South Africa)
Source: Africa Ports (2 May 2019)
The Transnet board of directors has announced that the contract of the acting group chief executive Tau Morwe will not be further extended, after Morwe served for a total of two three-month terms following the dismissal of Siyabonga Gama.
Read the full article here.
African Development Bank calls for urgent global action after second Mozambique cyclone (Comoros and Mozambique)
Source: Africa Ports (2 May 2019)
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has called for urgent global action in the wake of a second cyclone to hit the southern Africa coastal region in six weeks.
Read the full article here.
ICTSI disputes Sudan concession 'cancellation' claims (Sudan)
Source: Port Strategy (30 April 2019)
International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) has said it has not received 'any official notice' from the Sudanese government of the suspension of its concession contract for South Port Container Terminal at Port Sudan. Read the full article here.
EAC neighbours agree to single customs territory (Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and South Sudan)
Source: FTW Online (30 April 2019)
Kenya and Tanzania have agreed to fully implement a single customs territory to fast-track the clearance of goods. Read the full article here.
Chinese companies set to invest in Moz logistics infrastructure (Mozambique)
Source: FTW Online (29 April 2019)
Companies from China are showing increased willingness to fund logistics infrastructure and development projects following a high-level Mozambican government and trade visit to Beijing late last week. Read the full article here.
Kenya reveals plans to build new port at Kisumu (Kenya)
Source: Africa Ports (29 April 2019)
A new port is being planned for the city of Kisumu on Lake Victoria in order to provide improved harbour facilities ahead of the arrival of the standard gauge railway (SGR) from Mombasa and Nairobi. Read the full article here.
African bank signs agreement to boost trade finance on the continent
Source: FTW Online (26 April 2019)
The African Development Bank has signed a USD 50 million risk participation agreement (RPA) with investment and corporate bank, Natixis. Read the full article here.
Cyclone Kenneth comes ashore near Pemba (Mozambique)
Source: Africa Ports (26 April 2019)
Authorities in northern Mozambique were scrambling to evacuate thousands of residents in low-lying regions of coastland in northern Mozambique ahead of last week’s arrival of Cyclone Kenneth, a category 4 cyclone said in advance to be the equal or even more powerful than Cyclone Idai which devastated large expanses around the port city of Beira in March this year. Read the full article here.
Techobanine deepwater port project 'cherished' by Moz government (Mozambique)
Source: Africa Ports (26 April 2019)
Speaking in Beijing this week, Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi declared that despite the projected construction of the Techobanine railway and port was being undertaken by the private sector, the Mozambican government nevertheless ‘cherished’ it. Read the full article here.
Solvo.TOS a Key Ingredient in Angola’s Plans to Grow Its Economy (Angola)
Source: Port Strategy (25 April 2019)
Solvo.TOS has been chosen by Sogester S.A. (APMT and GF Sociedade Gestore de Terminais, SA) to modernize four container and general cargo terminals in Angola as part of the country’s plans to bolster its economy. Read the full article here.
Kasumbalesa a ‘regional problem’ (DRC and Zambia)
Source: FTW Online (23 April 2019)
Collaborative efforts are said to be the only long-term solution for the congestion facing the Kasumbalesa border, according to economic attaché for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Muzungu Docta. Read the full article here.
Congestion at Kasumbalesa eases slowly (DRC and Zambia)
Source: FTW Online (23 April 2019)
Truck clearing at the Kasumbalesa border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Zambia remains slow as authorities struggle to deal with a backlog of vehicles. Read the full article here.
AfDB approval for Central Africa Strategy
Source: Africa Ports (23 April 2019)
The Board of the African Development Bank has approved the Central Africa Regional Integration Strategy Paper 2019-2025, adopting the Bank’s multinational operations in Central Africa over the indicated period. Read the full article here.