If Southern Africa wants
to reap the benefits of
the growing oil and
gas finds in the region
it is going to have to invest
significantly in its port
infrastructure.
According to Paul
Runge, managing director
of Africa Project Access,
countries need to realise
they are not playing in small
environments but on the
world stage.
“The world is not
dependent on Africa’s
resources. If it is too difficult
to access these commodities
the big players will simply
go to those areas where they
can profitably mine. And
that includes the oil and gas
sector which is increasingly
becoming very
difficult to
separate from
traditional
mining on the
continent.”
He said
ports in
areas such as
Mozambique,
where major
gas finds have
been made
in the past
few years, were going to
have to look at increasing
infrastructure significantly.
“Without ports the resources
on this continent are
stranded and they are going
nowhere. We have to see
an increase
in port
investment
if we want to
truly benefit
from the
finds.”
According
to Runge
logistics
can only be
ignored for so
long before
investors start
walking away.
“We have our backs to the
wall and we are at a very
critical point. We have to
invest significantly.
He said upgrades at the
Port of Walvis Bay, where
a dedicated bulk terminal
will be constructed, were
welcome in light of this.
“We have to reach the
point where we stop talking
about infrastructure
required and move into
action, delivering what's
necessary.”
This is the same message
Dr Andrew Shaw, an
associate director at
PricewaterhouseCoopers,
recently brought to the
Transport Forum while
visiting the Port of Walvis
Bay where construction of
the new container terminal
is under way.
“Transport and logistics
infrastructure are the key to
sustaining Africa’s growth,”
he said.
Southern Africa’s ports
in particular are going to
have to work hard to up
their game. The average
waiting time at the Port
of Luanda, for example,
is 144 hours, and traffic
is frequently diverted
to Walvis Bay. “African
ports are constrained by
lack of capacity and low
inefficiency. Congestion and
poor linkages to hinterland
markets constrain efficient
logistics,” he said.
INSERT & CAPTION
Logistics can only be
ignored for so long
before investors start
walking away.
– Paul Runge
