CTBL-Watch - Issue 7 - July 2014.indd

CTBL-WATCH
AFRICA
ISSUE 7 | JULY 2014
A New Inland Offer For Angolan Imports
Full Story On Page 7
Kenya Port Deal To Cut
Import Costs
09
Deal Sealed On
BeitBridge Tolling
14
Transnet’s Freight Trains
Pick Up Speed
16
CTBL-WATCH
AFRICA
ISSUE 7 | JULY 2014
Contents
03 /
Corridor Review
05 /
Group News
09 /
Eastern & Southern Africa
19 /
Western Africa
1
The African Inland Freight Report
Brought to you by CMA CGM / DELMAS Marketing
Website: www.delmas.com
Email: [email protected]
Tweet: @DelmasWeDeliver
Rachel Bennett
Dominic Rawle
A New Inland Offer For
Angolan Imports
07
Kenya Port Deal To Cut
Import Costs
09
Deal Sealed On
BeitBridge Tolling
14
Transnet’s Freight Trains
Pick Up Speed
16
CMA CGM Marseille Head Ofﬁce
4, Quai d’Arenc 13235 Marseille cedex 02 France
Tel : +33 (0)4 88 91 90 00
www.cmacgm.com
Disclaimer of Liability
CMA CGM / DELMAS make every effort to provide
p
and maintain usable,
p
and timely information in this report. No responsibility
is accepted for
the accuracy, completeness, or relevance to
o the user’s purpose, of
the information. Accordingly Delmas denies any liability for any direct,
direct
indirect or consequential loss or damage suffered by any person as a
result of relying on any published information. Conclusions drawn from,
or actions undertaken on the basis of, such data and information are the
sole responsibility of the reader.
2
CTBL AFRICA
CORRIDOR REVIEW
Eastern & Southern Africa
3
Corridor
Current Situation
1
●
Kenya-Great Lakes/S. Sudan
The Group offers extensive CTBL services throughout Kenya.
Our new service to Juba, South Sudan, is running well.
2
●
Tanzania-Great Lakes
Roads to Zambia, Rwanda are in good condition.
A new opened corridor to Uganda via Mutukula is running well.
Due to heavy rains over the last 2-months a vital bridge has broken impacting
inland transport to Bujumbura [Burundi]. Trucks are now forced to use another
route adding an additional 200-km equating to 1-2 days additional transit.
3
●
Tanzania-Copper Belt
Roads through Mbeya offer a good alternative to the train to Ndola.
The service into DRC has been affected by social problems at the border.
The border post between Zambia and DRC has been closed for a few days.
However traffic is back to normal but with delays expected from backlog. The
situation could degenerate at any time. The Group is the only shipping line to
have its own office in Lubumbashi and thanks to a newly appointed Branch
Manager and staff we closely monitor the local situation.
4
●
Mozambique Nacala Corridor
Currently suspended but the service to due re-open in July on a trial basis.
The Group is currently finalizing an agreement to guarantee volumes on weekly
basis by rail.
5
●
Mozambique Beira Corridor
A bond agreement with customs is in place and we have our own broker at
our agency office to shorten clearance time and trucking. We do offer efficient
intermodal solutions under CTBL from Beira to Malawi an alternative to the
closed Nacala corridor.
6
●
Mozambique Maputo Corridor
Running well. We are using our transporters bond at a fee of US$25/ container.
The Maputo corridor is 100% dedicated to Harare by rail with transits
depending on wagon availability.
7
●
S. Africa Durban
Competitive rates offered to final destination in South Africa.
- Gaborone [Botswana] & Harare [Zimbabwe] by rail
- Lusaka, Copperbelt [Zambia], Maseru [Lesotho], Gaborone [Botswana] by
road
All rates for South African final destination will be filled in Rand from now on.
New trucking service to South Africa destination [banded by distance/radius].
New destinations available eg Livingstone [Zambia], Selebi Phikwe [Botswana].
8
●
Namibia Walvis Bay
The transport corridor from Walvis-Bay to Lusaka, Kitwe, Ndola & Lubumbashi
in south DRC are running well.
Western Africa
Corridor
Current Situation
Senegal-Mali
Good transit times at present.
Senegal-Guinea Bissau
Service is running well.
Guinea-Mali
Service suspended due to lack of reliable local service.
4
●
●
●
●
Cote d’Ivoire-Burkina/Mali
Due to the present difficulties in the evacuation of containers by rail via the Abidjan
corridor, we recommend the road option for your shipments to Ouagadougou.
5
●
Ghana-Burkina
Tema-Ouagadougou service is now available as an additional option. The Tema
corridor to Burkina is now the most competitive pricewise, with excellent transit
time from Asia with AFEX service.
6
●
●
●
Togo-Burkina/Niger
Service is running well.
Benin-Burkina/Niger
Operating well.
Cameroon-Chad
Due to train availability we recommend the all-road option on this corridor. Political
security is still not 100% on this corridor.
Cameroon-CAR
Douala-Bangui is SUSPENDED due to the political deterioration in CAR.
Gabon Corridor
The Libreville-Franceville corridor is suspended temporarily and will reopen soon.
11
●
●
●
Congo Corridor
Pointe Noire- Brazzaville bookings currently suspended. The corridor is expected
to open in July 2014.
12
●
DRC Corridor
Matadi-Kinshasa service running well with transits of 9 days.
1
2
3
7
8
9
10
4
CMA CGM / DELMAS
AFRICAN GROUP NEWS
Opening Of CMA CGM Chad
To cover the market in Chad, the CMA CGM Group has opened a new Group
Agency in N’Djamena. CMA CGM TCHAD will represent both DELMAS and CMA
CGM replacing former third party agent BAL Tchad. Mr Cheikh Mouhamadou Khaly
BA [[email protected]] has been appointed as Branch Manager and
Oumi ILLIASSOU [[email protected]] as Commercial Manager. The
creation of this new agency responds to the development of the Group in West
Africa, and in particular upgrades in services calling at Douala, Cameroon.
CMA CGM TCHAD
Avenue Charles De Gaulle,
Quartier Commercial Ilot 4, lot 2,
BP 5800 N’DJAMENA, Chad,
Tel: (235) 22 52 27 60
Chad’s economy, which grew an estimated 3.4% in 2013, is expected to surge
11.2% in 2014, as new oilfields begin production and the outlook for harvests is
good.
Branch Msnager Cheikh Mouhamadou Khaly and
Commercial Manager Oummi Illiassou
Exports
$4.144 billion (2012 est.) / $4.306 billion (2011 est.)
Export commodities
Oil, cattle, cotton, gum arabic
Export partners
US 82.5%, China 6.7% (2012)
Imports
$2.761 billion (2012 est.) / $2.696 billion (2011 est.)
Import commodities
Machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, foodstuffs, textiles
Import partners
China 19.8%, Cameroon 19.7%, France 15.8%, Saudi Arabia 5.4%, US 4.1% (2012)
Chad CTBL Corridor
Port of
Discharge
Destination
Country
Final
Destination
Transport
Kms
Port Days
Way
Total TT
to FPD
Terms
DOUALA
CHAD
ALL
ROAD
1400
20
15
35
Free on truck
- door
DOUALA
CHAD
MOUNDOU
RAIL + ROAD
1400
20
15
35
Free on truck
- door
DOUALA
CHAD
NDJAMENA
RAIL + ROAD
1700
20
17
37
Free on truck road terminal
DOUALA
CHAD
SAHR
RAIL + ROAD
1600
20
18
38
Free on truck
– door
Access Port Services
CMA CGM / DELMAS have a dedicated feeder serving Douala:
Rotation: Cotonou - Douala - Cotonou dedicated to cargo from/to Europe, USA/Canada East Coast/ South Atlantic / Gulf, Indian
Subcontinent and Middle East
As well as a weekly containerised service dedicated to the Central range of West Africa [PC Center], we also have a specialist
weekly RoRo service to Douala [RoRo Med]. The latter is dedicated to transport rolling stocks, hazardous cargo, breakbulk,
project cargo, heavy lifts, oversized cargo.
Furthermore the WAX service calls at Douala offering links to Asia specifically complete coverage of the main export areas in
China including 2-direct ports calls in North China Xingang/Tianjin and Qingdao as well as Japan, Korea and South East Asia
served on T/S via Port Kelang.
5
CTBL Enquiries
For details about our service, bookings and all-in rate enquiries please contact
your usual CMA CGM / DELMAS agent. For further service details view our
Intermodal Services Africa website [https://www.delmas.com/products-services/
our-services/ctbl] or scanning the QR code:
DOUALA FEEDER
Service Rotation: Cotonou - Douala Cotonou
http://www.delmas.com/products-services/line-services/flyer/
DOUALAFD
RORO MED
Service Rotation: Valencia - Livorno - Sete Marseille - Dakar - Abidjan - Lome - Cotonou
- Malabo - Bata - Douala - Valencia
http://www.delmas.com/products-services/line-services/flyer/
MARDEL
PC CENTRE
Service Rotation: Tanger Med - Dakar Tema - Cotonou - Douala - Tanger Med
http://www.delmas.com/products-services/line-services/flyer/
PCCENTRE
WAX
Service Rotation: Shanghai - Ningbo Chiwan - Nansha - Tanjung Pelepas - Port
Kelang - Cape Town - Tincan Lagos - Douala
- Abidjan - Pointe Noire - Colombo - Port
Kelang - Shanghai
http://www.delmas.com/products-services/line-services/flyer/WAX
6
CMA CGM / DELMAS
AFRICAN GROUP NEWS
A New Inland Offer For Angolan Imports
The CMA CGM Group have launched the first train – with forty full containers of various types, including reefers – between the
Unicargas Terminal of Luanda, calling point for the Angola Shuttle services, and the dry port Multiparques, located in the industrial
zone of Viana, 25 km away. This logistics offer follows a partnership agreement finalized more than a year ago, with the off-dock
CY “Multiparques”.
“
This new service will allow us to bring imports to the Viana industrial zone,
where many customers are located. From September this year it will allow us
to offer customers a more diverse logistics supply chain, optimize their costs
and improve their import processes.
ANGOLA SHUTTLE
Service Rotation: Lisbon - Leixoes - Tanger Med
- Luanda - Lobito - Namibe - San Pedro - Lisbon
- Dedicated service to Portugal, Angola and
Cote d’Ivoire
- Direct service to Luanda, Lobito and Namibe
- Other European ports served in transhipment
via Tangier Med
- Transhipment reliability via our hub
For more information please see our website:
http://www.delmas.com/products-services/lineservices/flyer/AOSDEL
7
”
Mathieu Friedberg, Vice President Africa Lines
CTBL Enquiries
For details about our service, bookings and all-in rate enquiries please contact
your usual CMA CGM / DELMAS agent. For further service details view our
Intermodal Services Africa website [https://www.delmas.com/products-services/
our-services/ctbl] or scanning the QR code:
Corridor Improvement: The Future
Multilateral Support
CMA CGM / DELMAS has extensive experience of on-carriage throughout Africa. We aim at being the reference in the market for
CTBL traffics to and from East, West and Southern Africa. We closely monitor the trade to optimise routings, tariffs and quality
of service. And by controlling every link in the transport chain and tracking every consignment, we ensure your cargo is delivered
safely and securely.
Looking to the future overall service levels can only be improved within landlocked corridors. With new found political motivation,
donor funding and multilateral stakeholder interest barriers to trade are gradually being eliminated. For example in East Africa
Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya recently launched a single customs territory and the Kenyan government reduced the number of
road check points from 56 to 15 to unlock the central transport corridor. Meanwhile the Tanzanian government is planning to
reduce the number of weighbridges from the current 9 to only 3 on the 1,267 km Dar es Salaam-Rusumo route from coastal
Tanzania to the Rwandan border.
And in West Africa the Borderless Alliance – a multilateral partnership of private and public sector stakeholders – are working to
increase trade and eliminate barriers in the region. The Borderless Alliance with support from the USAID West Africa Trade Hub
tracks barriers to trade and disseminates data and hold multilateral discussions to highlight cumbersome procedures, excessive
documentation, controls and bribes.
Further advancements include USAID/Borderless backed new Border Information Center’s [BIC] such as those opened at Seme,
Nigeria [Benin-Nigeria border] and in Noe and Elubo [Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana border] to name a few. These units help ease and
promote the speedy flow of transit traffic into the African hinterland. And with the introduction of One Stop Border Post [OSBP]
such as in Uganda which has signed a MoU with Trade Mark East Africa [TMEA] for the construction of four One Stop Border
Posts [OSBPs] at Busia [Uganda/Kenya], Mutukula [Uganda/Tanzania], Mirama Hills [Uganda/Rwanda] and Elegu [Uganda/ South
Sudan] under the East Africa Trade and Transport Facilitation Project [EATTFP] we expect to offer further service and transit
improvements along such routes.
8
EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA
CORRIDOR NEWS
Kenya
Port Deal To Cut Import Costs
Importers and businesses in the Northern Corridor can soon expect a more timely and efficient service at Mombasa Port,
following the signing of the Mombasa Port Community Charter by Kenya and the regional public and private agencies
involved in port affairs. Mombasa is the gateway to Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and other countries along the Northern
Corridor; the charter is expected to improve efficiency and boost trade across East Africa. The charter will aid in the
establishment of logistical and transport infrastructure, improve operational efficiency and facilitate regulation and oversight
engagement. Operational efficiency will be improved with the actualisation of paperless trading through the single window
system.
[New Times 04/07/14]
9
EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA
DRY PORTS
Namibia
Botswana Dry Port Operational From July
The Botswana dry port in Walvis Bay is expected to be operational from July. Costing N$60 million to build, the dry port intends
to consolidate maritime goods into intermodal and long distance transport flows in order to reduce costs, strengthen multi-modal
solutions and create opportunities for new services.
[The Namibian 30/06/14]
Zimbabwe Seeks Partner For Walvis Bay Venture
Zimbabwe’s government are considering partnering the private sector in the construction of its Walvis Bay Dry Port facility under
a public private partnership arrangement. Road Motor Services – a subsidiary of the National Railways of Zimbabwe – is currently
spearheading the construction of the port in partnership with Walvis Bay Corridor Group and the Namibian Port Authority.
In 2009 the Namibian government granted Zimbabwe 19,000 square metres of land to construct its own dry port in order to
boost the country’s trade, but due to financial constrains the project failed to take off. The project was allocated Z$1 million in
the 2014 budget, but to date no funding has been released from treasury. Construction of civil works at the site has begun, but
another Z$3.5 million is required to complete the work.
[The Herald 09/07/14]
10
EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA
ONE STOP BORDER POSTS
Tanzania / Zambia
Tunduma Set To Become One Stop Border Post
Tanzanian Authorities in conjunction with Zambia is to start a one stop border post [OSBP] at Tunduma. The Tanzania Revenue
Authority (TRA) has started around the clock operations to fast track movement of goods and reduce congestion. [An average of
2.877bn/- is collected as revenue from the border per month.]
[Daily News 26/06/14]
Tunduma
Tanzania
Tanzania-Burundi Border Post Harmonisation To Ease Congestion
Under a pilot scheme the Kabanga-Tanzania and Kobero-Burundi border posts between Tanzania and Burundi will become One
Stop Border Posts (OSBP). Under the OSBP, services will be harmonised and traffic jointly cleared by officers from both countries
on one side of the border, easing the flow of traffic through the posts.
One of the challenges facing regional traders is the issue of delays at border posts because government agencies work
autonomously. This measure is intended to address these trade barriers, as required by the East African Community (EAC) treaty.
s the EAC member states are heading towards a political federation and use of one currency, having one stop border posts to
facilitating fast border movement and transactions is a vital step towards attainment of the its goal.
[Tanzania Daily News 05/07/14]
11
EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA
ROAD
Kenya
AfDB To Fund Road Upgrade
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has agreed to pay for
the upgrade of a busy regional road. AfDB is giving $223.5
million for the project.
The road runs from Taveta to Voi in Kenya and is being
rehabilitated to create another major transport corridor in the
region, linking Mombasa Port with northern Tanzania and
landlocked countries in the region. The road an extension
of the Arusha-Namanga-Athi-River Highway, and the
construction will help to spur economic growth in Tanzania
and Kenya.
Tanzania intends to apply a portion of these funds to
cover eligible payments under the Works Contract
for the Construction of the Sakina-Tengeru Road to
Dual Carriageway (14.1kms) and the Arusha Bypass
Road (42.4kms). The Tanzania National Roads Agency
(TANROADS), on behalf of the Ministry of Works, will
supervise the construction and upgrading of the Sakina
-Tengeru Road to dual carriageway status.
The civil works for the four-lane Arusha by-pass highway are
expected to start with the rehabilitation of the Arusha-Usa
River Road, which is to start from the Sakina area in Arusha’s
CBD. The road will be expanded to a four lane up to Tengeru,
some 20kms away from the Arusha city, and later cover 56.6
kilometres up to the Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) road
junction.
The road project is part of the 240km long regional project
linking Arusha in Tanzania and Voi in Kenya. Upgrading of the
85km along via-Holili section in Kenya is already underway.
[East African Business Week 06/07/14]
Mozambique
Five Roads To Shift To Private Management
Five sections of roads in will shift to private management before the end of the year with the aim of maintaining road circulation
and safety conditions. Matola/Boane, Marracuene/Lindela, Vanduzi/Changara, Nampula/Nacala and Monapo/Ilha de
Moçambique were determined to have potential to operate under the toll road arrangement. Only two toll roads currently operate
in Mozambique; one in Maputo province managed by South Africa’s Trans African Concessions (TRAC) and one in Tete with
Estradas do Zambeze.
[Macauhub 30/06/14]
China Exim Bank Funds Road Repairs
China Exim Bank and the Mozambican government plan to provide US$410 million for work to repair National Road 6 (EN6),
which is 288 kilometres long and links the port of Beira to Machipanda, on the border with Zimbabwe. The work is expected to
be finished in 2017 and will be carried out in four stages, the first of which will be a section of 218.9 kilometres, the second of 13
kilometres, the third 47 kilometres and the fourth and final stage of 8 kilometres. The project includes building a 250-metre bridge
over the Púnguè River and repairs on 1,652 metres of bridges at several points along the route of the road.
[Macauhub 14/07/14]
12
EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA
ROAD
South Africa / Botswana
Upgrade Border Posts And Bridges Planned
South Africa and Botswana have signed a memorandum of
agreement that will see the two countries improving cooperation
to promote increased cross-border trade, economic growth and
regional integration. Key to the agreement is a programme the
upgrade bridges and border posts connecting the two countries,
starting with the reconstruction of the Rammotswa Bridge, which
crosses the Notwane River where it borders South Africa and
Botswana. Preliminary designs for the new bridge had been
completed, and South Africa has already committed R20-million
to the project.
Reconstruction of the Rammotswa Bridge will pave the way
for the upgrade of the Swartkopfontein border post, which
currently has to close for long periods over the rainy season.
Swartkopfontein offers a potentially convenient commercial route
between Zeerust in South Africa and Gaborone, Lobatse and
Ramotswa in Botswana. The border post is ideally positioned
between the commercial border posts of Kopfontein and
Ramatlabama, and will relieve the pressure of traffic on these
border posts once it becomes usable on a regular basis.
[South Africa Info 08/07/14]
Zambia
World Bank Starts Auditing Roads In Eastern Province
Under the Good Governance Road Project (GGRP), the World Bank has started auditing and monitoring the construction of
the Link Zambia 8000 projects in Eastern Province. The bank has injected K246,000 in the project, which started in January
this year and expected to end next month. The GGRP is being implemented through Eastern Province National Association for
Medium and Small Scale contractors (NAMSSC) and is working in collaboration with the Road Development Agency, provincial
administration and other stakeholders. The auditing and monitoring is intended to prevent avoid corruption and shoddy works.
The road watch monitors involved in the project have been drawn from the local community and have been trained in basic road
auditing and monitoring skills.
[Daily Mail 03/07/14]
Ndola-Kitwe Road Works Advance
Maintenance on the Ndola-Kitwe dual carriageway is 60% complete. Works on the 60 km road, part of the Link Zambia 8000
project, are scheduled to be completed on August 28th by contractor China Jiangxi. The works are costing Government about
K298 million. Meanwhile the upgrading of the Chingola-Kitwe dual carriageway is expected to cost K575 million. Sino-hydro
Zambia has been contracted to be completed by March 2015.
[The Times 18/06/14]
Raubex Secures Second Road Upgrade Contract
Raubex is to upgrade 117 km of the Mpika-Nabwalya-Mfuwe road, in north-eastern Muchinga, in Zambia, after securing
the ZK540-million [R940-million] 30-month contract. Mobilisation for the contract, which forms part of the Zambian Road
Development Agency’s Zambia Link 8000 project, will kick off in July. This latest contract comes a month after Raubex was
awarded a ZK265-million (R460-million) contract to upgrade 94 km of the Safwa to Chinsali road. The Link Zambia 8000
project, launched in 2012, is a 5-year, US$5-6-billion initiative aimed at upgrading 8,000 km of road network, linking provinces
nationwide.
[Engineering News 23/06/14]
13
Zimbabwe
Deal Sealed On BeitBridge Tolling
South Africa and Zimbabwe are to split revenue from traffic through the Limpopo Bridge, whose administration was handed over
to the Zimbabwean government on 16th June. The handover followed the expiry of the 20-year long build, operate and transfer
agreement signed with New Limpopo Bridge, the company that built the bridge in 1994. Traffic coming into Zimbabwe will pay
fees to the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara). It remains unclear which agency will handle South Africa’s revenue
collection.
The cash-strapped Zimbabwean government is set to pocket US$1.6m monthly through toll fees - significant inflows that the
country’s Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Obert Mpofu said would have “an impact” on the state’s tight
revenue. Zimbabwe has already reduced toll fees charged on all types of vehicles by about 30%.
South Africa was still working on a framework and regulatory body that would be in charge of revenue collection on its side of
the border. However South Africa’s transport ministry were unhappy with the “low fees” Zimbabwe charged. At the rate that
Zimbabwe was progressing, it would never be able to build new roads. Zinara collected about $40m from toll fees nationwide
each month. This is not enough for constructing even 30km of road according to Mpofu.
[Business Day 18/06/14]
Gwanda – BeitBridge Road
The COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite has received financing from the African Development Bank [AfDB] hosted NEPAD
Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility (IPPF) toward the cost of the North South Corridor. Funds will cover the preparation
of feasibility studies, detailed engineering design and tender documents for the rehabilitation of roads in Botswana, Malawi and
Zimbabwe. Part of the agreed amount is to cover the rehabilitation of 200 km Gwanda – BeitBridge road section in Zimbabwe.
[AfDB 25/06/14]
14
EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA
RAIL
Botswana/Namibia
Trans Kalahari Railway Project Moves Ahead
The Botswana and Namibian governments are in the process of establishing an office to coordinate the jointly-run Trans Kalahari
Railway project. The office will be established in Windhoek, Namibia, with personnel would be drawn from both countries. After
establishing the office, a feasibility study to determine funding requirements for the railway project will begin.
The 1,500-km heavy-haul line is expected to link Botswana’s coalfields with the existing railhead at Gobabis in Namibia. The
railway would expand freight capacity on congested transport corridors within the Southern African Development Community
and is expected to provide greater access to global markets for other landlocked countries in the region like Malawi, Zambia and
Zimbabwe.
[APA 08/07/14]
Mozambique/Zimbabwe
Machipanda Railway To Be Rebuilt
The Machipanda Railroad, which links the Mozambican port of Beira to Machipanda station, may undergo reconstruction along
its entire 317-km length this year. According to the Sena Railroad a consultant is being chosen to carry out feasibility studies and
involves state port and rail company Portos e Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique (CFM) and the Mozambique Regional Gateway
Programme, a Mozambique-based programme linked to increasing international traffic in Southern Africa. CFM has so far spent
US$10 million to stabilise the line, and to re-open crossings and stations. Derailment issues have been reduced as sharp bends
in the line have been removed and faulty rails and sleepers replaced. The Machipanda Railroad, which is located near the border
with Zimbabwe, is the only freight line to and from Zimbabwe and Zambia.
[Macauhub 18/06/14]
15
South Africa
Transnet’s Freight Trains Pick Up Speed
Transnet is starting to make gains from its rail freight unit as it recorded an
increase in volumes of minerals, containers and vehicles transported by
rail. For the year to March Transnet grew its revenue by 12.8 percent to
R56.6 billion. The revenue growth was driven by a 14.2 percent increase
in mineral and chrome volumes, in addition to a 25.2 percent rise in
automotive volumes and containers moved by rail.
Transnet Freight Rail contributed about 50 percent to the group’s total
revenue. Rail has been the main focus of the company’s seven-year capital
investment programme. Transnet had previously said 65 percent of the
R300bn-plus capital investment programme would be spent on beefing up
rail capacity.
However, the group said rail volumes for its heavy haul lines dedicated to
coal and iron ore declined marginally year on year. The export coal line was
hampered by a number of factors, including a 33-day strike by workers
belonging to a breakaway union, a municipal power supply disruption
at the Richards Bay coal terminal and a longer-than-anticipated annual
maintenance shutdown. The coal line transported 83.1 million tons, down
from 84.3 million tons last year.
Port container volumes increased by 6.3 percent, while petroleum pipeline
volumes were up 4.4 percent. Operating costs saw an overall increase of
13.1 percent to R33bn, with energy costs rising by 10.3 percent, driven by
higher electricity and fuel prices.
[Business Report 01/07/14]
TFR Sees Swazi Link, Shongololo Coal Export Capacity Rising
Transnet Freight Rail (TFR)’s feasibility study into a proposed rail link through Swaziland – which would eliminate non-coal traffic
on the export channel from the Mpumalanga coalfields to Richards Bay – is at an advanced stage. The new link, together with the
introduction of new operating solutions, has the potential to raise the coal-export corridor’s capacity to 120-million tons.
During the 2013/14 financial year, export-coal volumes declined by 1% to 68.2-million tons, from 69.2-million tons in the previous
year. The fall was attributed to a decline in coal prices, a nine-day power disruption at the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) and
industrial action. However, TFR and coal exporters have also been in ongoing discussions about raising the capacity of the export
channel, which the miners see as the main constraint to increased export volumes.
Transnet’s R307.5-billion Market Demand Strategy anticipated raising yearly coal export capacity to 98-million tons by 2019.
However, the combination of the Swaziland link with its 200-wagon ‘Project Shongololo’ operation solution has the potential
to increase capacity even further. The Swaziland connection would allow TFR to remove the 12 general-freight trains currently
operating on the corridor daily, enabling it to operate the coal line exclusively on heavy-haul principles.
[Mining Weekly 30/06/14]
Transnet Initiates Waterberg Rail Studies
Transnet has issued tenders opening the way for formal investigations into the rail requirements to link the coal-rich Waterberg
region with domestic and export coal markets. Transnet Capital Projects is seeking consultants to conduct a prefeasibility
study into the Waterberg infrastructure and feasibility studies into rail infrastructure linking the coal-mining town of Lephalale, in
Limpopo, with Ermelo, in Mpumalanga, which is a key coal-logistics junction.
The studies form part of a plan to connect the Waterberg coalfields, as well as those in Botswana, with export terminals in
KwaZulu-Natal, as well as with State-owned power utility Eskom’s power stations, which are looking to shore up additional
resources as some of its tied collieries reach maturity.
[Mining Weekly 15/07/14]
16
EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA
RAIL
Tanzania
Tanzania Lays Out New Central Railway Plans
The government has laid out a strategic plan to build a new railway line from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza, linking central regions
up to Burundi via Isaka. Inauguration of construction is expected to be sometimes in December this year, with the project to cost
US$7 billion and last for four years.
[Guardian 12/07/14]
Uganda
Rift Valley Railways Raises Final US$69 Million
Rift Valley Railways (RVR), the concessionaire for the Uganda and Kenya line, has
completed the final funding acquisition as parts of its US$164 million five-year
turnaround programme with the acquisition of $69.6 million raised through leading
global and East African financiers. The debt facility was part of the US$287 million
capital financing package that was provided in the form of a series of loans.
RVR plans to use the money to increase its haulage capacity by rehabilitating the rail
infrastructure from Mombasa to Kampala. The regional rail operator’s total spending
this year will exceed US$100 million, some of which will be used to add 1,400 wagons
to the existing fleet. RVR is on track to meet the railway line maintenance standards
and has acquired modern track maintenance technology that will automate and speed
up the process.
[East African Business Week 13/07/14]
17
Zambia
Tazara’s US$80 Million Boost
The governments of Tanzania and Zambia, which are the two shareholders of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA),
have agreed to inject US$80 million into the operations of the railway firm in the next 12 months. Of this amount, US$9.20 million
will be disbursed immediately to cater for two months outstanding employees’ salary arrears and working capital.
The injection of funds into the railway line follows months of low productivity and operational disruptions due to various factors
including frequent breakdowns, accidents, unstable labour atmosphere and lack of working capital to pay salaries and procure
fuels and lubricants for the trains, all resulting in recurrent work stoppages.
Zimbabwe
National Railways of Zimbabwe Needs US$10 Billion
The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) requires US$10 billion to recapitalise in line with global trends. Some US$144 million
of the cash - if found - would go towards settling obligations to service providers and workers who have gone for almost a year
without pay.
Dilapidated infrastructure, undercapitalisation and competition from road transport had led to the transport operator’s demise.
Most of the infrastructure that NRZ owns is at least 50 years old. NRZ is currently operating at a loss of US$4 million on a monthly
basis, translating to some US$32 million a year with a wage-bill that is taking away no less than 69% of total revenue. NRZ owes
its 6,000 workers some US$36 million in salary arrears.
[New Zimbabwe 07/07/14]
18
WESTERN AFRICA
ROAD
Angola
Road Links To Neighbouring Countries By 2017
Road links between Angola and neighbouring countries will be in place by 2017, the Angolan National Roads Institute (INEA)
has said. INEA have just reopened a metal bridge over the Luvo River after the previous bridge was destroyed by an overloaded
truck. Plans are underway to build a concrete bridge across the river, which separates the municipality of Mbanza Congo, Angola,
and the Lower Congo region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The bridge will be 37.6 metres long and have one 3.5-metre
lane running in each direction.
Work to rebuild the cross-border roads in the south, north and east of the country are also at an advanced stage. A road in the
Cunene area linking to neighbouring Namibia is nearing completion and work is underway in the Zaire province rebuild the road to
the Lower Congo, DRC. The road corridors in the provinces of Uíge, Malange, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, and in Lobito, Benguela,
to Luau, Moxico, on the border with Zambia, are due to be rebuilt as part of the National Development Plan too.
[Macauhub 08/07/14]
Chad
Afdb Approves Funding For Kyabe-Kingako Axis
The African Development Bank (ADB) approved the tarring of the 72.3 km Kyabe-Kingako axis project in Chad at a cost of
US$123 million dollars over 4-years. The project will open up the region specifically to neighbouring Sudan. The development will
see one of the missing links in the N’Djamena, Moundou, Sarh, Kyabe, Am Timan corridor finalised.
[AfDB 19/06/14]
Ghana
OHTTs Wants To Revert Axle Load Limit
Operators in the Haulage and Transit Trade (OHTT) sector have
made a plea to government to revert to the axle load limit agreed
upon by the European Union and the Economic Community of
West African States (ECOWAS) for implementation by the member
countries.
Ghana is the only country in the sub-region which has reduced
the limit downwards from the approved 68 tonnes to 60 tonnes
gross weight for six axle load trucks. This had become a major
disincentive with importers from landlocked countries diverting
their goods and using other transit routes. OHTT have insisted
that the implementation of the new policy was making the
trucking of goods very expensive and negatively hurting Ghana’s
competiveness in trade and transport, and urged the government
to return to the old regime.
Ghana Shippers Authority have said while it is important to
highlight the damage to the roads caused by loading above the
permitted weight, it is equally important to mitigate the increase
in the cost of road transportation. GSA’s position is that a
harmonized axle load implementation within the sub-region will
create the needed environment for economic growth, facilitate free
movement of goods and persons as envisioned by ECOWAS trade
protocols.
[GNA 12/07/14]
19
WESTERN AFRICA
RAIL
Ghana
PwC Chosen As Transaction Advisors For Railway Project
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) have been selected as the Transaction Advisors for the Boankra inland port and the Eastern
railway line project. The Boankra inland port and the Eastern Railway line project is an important multi-modal transport
infrastructure development, which when completed, will improve the rail link between Tema and Kumasi. It will also enhance
the operational efficiency of both the Tema and Takoradi ports. PwC will now undertake feasibility studies, develop financial and
economic models in addition to giving advice and managing the procurement process.
[Ghanaweb 11/07/14]
Nigeria
Government Okays N1.3 Billion Contracts for Gauge Rail Lines
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved N1.3 billion consultancy service contracts for the design of six standard gauge rail
lines across the country. The six lots, totalling 4,430km, to be completed within six months are in addition to seven approved by
the council last year.
The contracts are part of the 35-year strategic vision of the federal government for the rail sector. The scope of work will include
detailed studies, surveys and designs as well as identification of rail stations along the routes, environmental impact assessment,
workshops and other rail basic infrastructure.
The new contracts cover Kano-Dayi-Katsina-Jibiya rail line, Ilela-Sokoto-Jega-Yauti-Makera rail line, Aba-Ikot Ekpene-Ibiono-Itu
(spur line to Uyo)-Odupkani-Calabar rail line, Kano-Nguru-Gashua-Damaturu/Gamborun-Ngala rail line, Calabar-Ikom-ObuduOgoja-Katsina Ala-Wukari-Jalingo-Yola-Maiduguri and Port Harcourt-Aba-Umuahia-Enugu-Makurdi-Lafia-Jos-Bauchi-GombeBiu-Maiduguri rail line. The contracts were carefully selected to cover areas with such strong economic potentials as mining,
petro-chemicals, solid minerals deposits, agricultural zones, among others.
[Daily Trust 17/07/14]
20

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