Africa Plans for 21st Century Port Expansion at African Ports Evolution

A recent Work Bank study demonstrates that the average cargo dwell time in most Sub-Saharan African ports is close to 20 days as compared to the average 4 days dwell time encountered in most large East Asian or European ports.   Although Africa is poised to be one of the most strategic partners for trade and best bets for infrastructure investment in the 21st century, ports in sub-Saharan Africa still rank inefficient by global standards and lack sufficient capacity to meet growing cargo volumes forecast to arrive on Africa’s shores over the medium term.   Capacity constraints are leading to increased port charges, elevated maritime freight costs, and increased congestion, adversely affecting the region’s export competitiveness.

Ports authorities, terminal operators and corridor groups are now taking strides to combat inefficiencies and drive progress through regional collaboration.  Not only are they advocating maritime development and increased port connectivity but they are also taking action to achieve demand driven expansion by attending African Ports Evolution Forum, taking place in Cape Town, South Africa from 26 to 28 August. 

Chief Executives from over 8 African ports are setting the pace for maritime expansion by sharing their expansion strategies and expertise, playing a more pivotal role than ever in the continent’s growth.  Tau Morwe, CEO of Transnet National Ports Authority in South Africa and keynote speaker joins other Chief Executives such as Shekur Suntah, Director General of the Mauritius Ports Authority Osorio Lucas, CEO of the Maputo Corridor Development Company in Mozambique, Nancy Karigithu, Managing Director of the Kenya Maritime Authority and more to define the next wave of maritime industry expansion in Africa.

The African Ports Evolution Forum is designed by the industry for the industry with support from 9 strategic partners including the Botswana Chamber of Mines, the Maputo Corridor Logistics Initiative, the Ports Management Association of Eastern and Southern Africa (PMAESA), the South African Shippers Council and the Walvis Bay Corridor Group.  The event is sponsored by 14 maritime industry leaders including Bechtel, Grindrod, Namport, Associated Marine, Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC), BASF, Bosch Projects, Bosch Security Systems, Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC), Konkrete MBP, Nanoland South Africa, Royal HaskoningDHV, Stefanutti Stocks and ThyssenKrupp Materials Handling.

Challenges such as insufficient container storage space, long container dwell time, rapid increase in cargo volumes leading to port congestion, low performance of inland modes of transport, and lack of ability to acquire more space for port activities are mobilising the industry to start planning today for Africa’s ports of tomorrow.  Johny Smith, CEO of the Walvis Bay Corridor Group in Namibia says of the event, “This conference will help Africa’s leading coastal nations collaborate with their landlocked neighbours to reduce the cost of trade, transport, and logistics across the Southern continent.”