South Africa needs to invest in
infrastructure for the future,
as the country’s estimates of
future volumes are not as far off
as many may think.
Whilst Transnet’s proposal
for a dig-out port in Durban has
repeatedly come under fire –
with its volume projection being
questioned –
logistics experts
maintain the
country is
far better off
investing in
infrastructure
now and
creating
capacity ahead
of demand.
“There is
no doubt in my mind that we need
the dig-out port,” says Professor
Jan Havenga of the Department
of Logistics at the University of
Stellenbosch. “We can over- or
under-estimate volumes for the
future and the answer will still be
that we need to create the capacity.
It may be a few years earlier or later
than originally thought, but ports
take a long time to build.”
He says even with a negative
outlook on the growth of the
economy and a conservative
estimate of expected volume
growth, Durban will eventually
be under severe pressure and that
will affect the country far more
negatively.
“Durban would
not be able to
cope. Preparing
in advance is
more beneficial
than dealing
with a crisis
only when it
happens. We only
have to look at
loadshedding to
understand what the impact would
be if volumes do increase and we
don’t have the capacity in place,” he
says. “The government has to build
the infrastructure that it thinks it
will need. Ports and the investment
they require have to be considered
far into the future.”
INSERT & CAPTION
There is no doubt in my
mind that we need the digout
port.
– Professor Jan Havenga
