Namibia to start sooner on new port

WINDHOEK/GABORONE — Work on a new port in Namibia to export commodities and import fuel for Southern African states will start next year, a year earlier than initially planned, the country’s port authority said.A 4-billion Namibian dollar (US$360m) oil-tanker jetty, petroleum pipelines and 75-million litre oil storage facility form part of the first phase, Namibia Ports Authority CEO Bisey Uirab said in an e-mailed response to questions.

The harbour, known as the Southern Africa Development Community Gateway port, will be built 5km north of Walvis Bay.

It is aimed at catering for exporters and importers of commodities from Namibia’s landlocked neighbours.

“The first phase, construction of the tanker jetty of the Gateway Port that was planned for 2016 will commence next year, signifying the urgency of the project,” Mr Uirab said.

Growing demand from mining companies for oil and petroleum products “is also increasing the viability of this development ahead of expectations,” he said.

Namibia raised its fuel levy on all grades by 10 Namibian cents a litre to 25c, and will increase it further to 40c/l to help finance the tanker berthing and storage facilities, Mines and Energy Minister Isak Katali said on August 28.

China Harbour Engineering and the state-owned Roads Contractor were awarded the tender to build a tanker jetty able to handle two 60,000 metric tonne deadweight tankers, at any given time, Mr Uirab said.

The second and third phases of the port, initially slated to start in 2020, involve construction of a dry-bulk terminal and a five-berth coal terminal, primarily to cater for 65-million tonnes of projected shipments from Botswana’s Mmamabula coalfields.

Namibia and Botswana are jointly developing a 1 500km Trans-Kalahari railway to transport coal from eastern Botswana to markets in China and India.

The new port is also intended to handle increased shipments from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Namport says the harbour’s position is strategic for routes to Europe, Asia, North America and the Middle East.

“Our geographical positioning makes us the obvious and cost effective gateway to Sadc (the Southern African Development Community),” Mr Uirab said.

“We also capitalise on the fact that we are a medium-size port compared to regional ports, we are less congested hence waiting time is reduced.” — Bloomberg.