Ratifying Rotterdam Rules: Benefi ts, Implications For Africa

Ghana: Tema Port Enhancing Transparency & Trade Facilitation

South Africa: 8th BRICS Summit05 15 23

AFRICATRADE-WATCH

ISSUE 66 | NOVEMBER 2016

Contents

03 | African Group News

05 | Pan Africa

19 | Eastern Africa

11 | Western Africa

23 | Southern Africa

Regional: Ratifying Rotterdam Rules: Benefits, Implications For African Countries / AU Summit On Maritime Security, Safety & Development In Africa / Studies On Transport Sector Highlight Opportunities For Investment / US$4.1 Billion Non-Oil Export Under American AGOA / Korea-Africa [KOAFEC] Ministerial Economic Summit in Seoul / Merkel Says Africa To Be Priority For German G20 Presidency / Standard Bank Pushes Chinese Link With African Countries / Maritime Security, Safety and Development Summit / Tangier Med Terminal Places New Equipment Order

Cameroon: Scanners At Douala To Systematise Container InspectionCote d’Ivoire: Cote d’Ivoire Launches Key Economic Diversification PARCSI ProjectGhana: Tema Port Enhancing Transparency & Trade Facilitation / Aecom Chosen For US$1.5 Billion Scheme To Triple Tema Port Capacity / Agility Opens Ghana’s First Logistics Park in Tema / Gas Project Approval To Impact Tema Port / Takoradi Container Terminal Nears CompletionGuinea: Guinea Announces Strategic Cooperation Partnership With China / Guinea Inks US$770m Contract With Chinese Firm To Develop ConakryMorocco: 5th International Single Window ConferenceNigeria: Nigeria Seals Free Trade Zone Project / Katsina, Kano Dry Ports To Come On Stream Soon / Economic Summit Wants Review Of Items Barred From Accessing Forex / UNCTAD Program For National Trade Facilitation Committees / Badagry Deep Sea Port Will Make Lagos Africa’s 5th Largest EconomySenegal: DP World To Boost Economic DevelopmentSierra Leone: Freetown Terminal Expansion

Regional: Economic Partnership Agreements / Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda Real-Time Transit Cargo Tracking Starts JanuaryKenya: LAPSSET Project Receives New Breath Of Life / Rise In Import Duty At Mombasa Port / New Police Unit To Escort Transit Cargo From Mombasa Port / Uganda-Bound Cargo Retains Lead Position At PortRwanda: New Committee To Facilitate Trade In RwandaTanzania: EU Envoys To Boost Port For Commerce

Namibia: Namport To Focus On Cargo Volume Growth / Usakos Proposed As New Dry PortSouth Africa: 8th BRICS Summit / BRICS Policy Needs To Benefit South Africa / South Africa Plans Major Transport Spend / Preferential Trade Agreement Between MERCOSUR & SACU / Third Italy-South Africa Summit / Transnet Port Projects Under Operation Phakisa / Durban Harbour Goes Hi-Tech / Port Refurbishments At An Advanced StageSouth Africa/Zimbabwe: Bi-National Commission Launched To Set Up OSBP

CMA CGM Group Improves Moroccan Reefer Service / CMA CGM Attends AU Extraordinary Summit

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AFRICATRADE-WATCH

ISSUE 66 | NOVEMBER 2016

ANGOLA - The Luanda International Fair (Filda) 2016, the largest

multisector trade fair in Angola, has been cancelled due to a small number of registered exhibitors.

- Angola is to increase import duty on meat to encourage increased domestic production, and has estimated that foreign currency savings will reach US$200m.

BURKINA FASO - Teranga Gold to raise A$65-million through an equity

raising to develop the recently acquired Banfora gold project to incl early engineering works. A nonbrokered private placement basis will also give Tablo Corporation a 17.4% interest in Teranga.

CAMEROON - US$143bn ‘Japoma Sports’ complex to be constructed

for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019 by Turkish Yenigun Construction over 18-22 months.

CONGO - Expects to launch a new shallow-water licensing round

for 2017/18 after its last round closes at the end of March when winning bidders are expected to be announced.

COTE D’IVOIRE - Nickel de l’Ouest Côte d’Ivoire will invest $365m in

concessions. The government granted Noci a mining permit in Touba and Biankouma.

Western AfricaKENYA - Tullow Oil will restart exploration and appraisal drilling at

the South Lokichar field next month.

NAMIBIA - The India Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry

is expected to be inaugurated stationed at the Indian High Commission early January 2017. An Indian trade delegation will visit during November.

RWANDA - IMF: Economy forecast to grow 6.2% in 2017, slightly up

from this year’s projection of 6% & to accelerate to 6.6% in 2018.

SOUTH AFRICA - An MoU was signed between the China Entry-Exit

Inspection and Quarantine Association and Fruit South Africa, which is set to broaden fruit trade between the 2-countries.

- Australian Vanadium has secured an option to earn a majority stake in the Blesberg lithium/tantalum project, in Northern Cape province.

TANZANIA/ZANZIBAR - Government set an economic growth target of 7.5% in

2017, compared to an estimate of 7.2% this year, and plans to hike spending in the 2017/18 fiscal year by 11.5% to $15.1 billion.

Eastern & Southern Africa

Events Diary

News Briefs

November 201616-18 5th Commercial Farm Africa (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) http://www.cmtevents.com/aboutevent.aspx?ev=161134&name=5th-Commercial-Farm-Africa&

17-18 16th Intermodal Africa 2016 Exhibition and Conference (Mombasa, Kenya) http://www.transportevents.com/ForthcomingEventsdetails.aspx?EventID=EVE132

22-23 East Africa Rail 2016 (Nairobi, Kenya) http://www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/east-africa-rail/index.stm

23-24 West Afrian Power Convention (Lagos, Nigeria) http://www.wapicforum.com/#

24-27 EXPOTRANS 2016 (Luanda, Angola) http://www.sigame-cplp.com/noticias/expotrans-2016.html

25-27 12th Tanzanian Trade Show (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania) http://www.growexh.com/tanzaniatradeshow/

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Website: www.cma-cgm.comEmail: lhv.marketing@cma-cgm.comTweet: @CMA_CGM_Group

CMA CGM Marseille Head Offi ce4, Quai d’Arenc 13235 Marseille cedex 02 France

Tel : +33 (0)4 88 91 90 00

www.cma-cgm.com

Disclaimer of LiabilityThe CMA CGM Group make every effort to provide and maintain usable,

and timely information in this report. No responsibility is accepted for

the accuracy, completeness, or relevance to the user’s purpose, of the

information. Accordingly the CMA CGM Group denies any liability for any

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.

THE TRADE & TRANSPORT REPORTBrought to you by CMA CGM Africa Marketing

Rachel Bennett Dominic Rawle

CMA CGM Group Improves Moroccan Reefer Service Transit Times Upgraded On Wazzan Service This month CMA CGM is significantly improving its Moroccan reefer service to West Africa. The Wazzan service, operated with 3 vessels of 1200 TEU, will see a modified port rotation that will offer better transit times from Morocco. For example Dakar will be offered weekly from Casablanca in just 5 days. The new port rotation will be Algeciras, Tangiers, Casablanca, Las Palmas, Dakar, Nouakchott, Nouadhibou and back to Algeciras. For further information, rates or bookings please contact your local CMA CGM agency office.

For more information please see:http://www.cma-cgm.com/products-services/line-services/

flyer/WAZZAN

3

AFRICAN GROUP NEWSCMA CGM

CMA CGM Attends AU Extraordinary Summit Special Focus On African Maritime Security, Safety & Development

General Frédéric Beth, Institutional Advisor for Africa to the CMA CGM Group, travelled to Lomé from October 12-14th to attend the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Maritime Security and Safety and Development in Africa. The gathering saw experts in the field discussing issues on maritime security and safety, the fight against maritime piracy and the blue economy.

For CMA CGM, the summit provided an opportunity to take an active part in side events and highlight the Groups concern and actions on such critical issues.

The Charter of the African Union [AU] on maritime safety, signed on October 15th by more than 30 African countries, aims to put in place the framework for continental policies able to eradicate piracy, illegal fishing and pollution.

It was absolutely essential that the CMA CGM Group shows its involvement and commitment by taking an active part in these meetings.

General Frédéric Beth

“” 4

RegionalRatifying Rotterdam Rules: Benefits, Implications For African CountriesThe Union of African Shippers Council [UASC] met in Abuja last month to discuss the ratification of the Rotterdam Rules. The Nigerian Shippers Council [NSC] hosted the event which saw all African Shippers Council under the aegis of UASC discuss the validation and prompt ratification of the “United Nation’s Convention On Contracts For The International Carriage Of Goods Wholly Or Partly By Sea” also known as Rotterdam Rules. The Rotterdam rules are a more comprehensive, balanced, modern and enduring carriage of goods regime to the Hague and Hamburg rules with African stakeholders believing there will be many benefits to following the regime.

[Leadership 12/10/16]

BACKGROUND

Hague Rules The first international mandatory carriage regime that deal with the problem of ship-owners regularly excluding themselves from all liabilities for loss or cargo damage. However the Hague rules offers no protection to cargo owners in terms of balancing the interest of ship-owners and cargo owners rather, the rules water down the protection offered the cargo owners under the common law in respect of the liability of common carriers. However parties called for a more balanced liability regime for international carriage of goods by sea and in an attempt to address the lack of balance of interest between carriers and shippers as well as seeming indifference to technological development and modern trade practices. In the process, the Hamburg rules were introduced and adopted at a diplomatic conference on 31st March 1978 and came into force on 1st November, 1992.

Hamburg Rules The Hamburg Rules were prepared by the United Nation’s Commission on International Trade Law [UNCITRAL] at the instance of developing countries and endorsed by the United Nation’s conference on trade and Development [UNCTAD] and other intergovernmental organisation. The Hamburg Rules were prepared to establish a relatively uniform legal regime with a fair balance of risks between carriers and shippers under a port to port contract of carriage of goods by sea. One of the major objectives of the convention was to create an even playing ground for both carriers and shippers. But the Hamburg rules are favoured by developing nations who are largely cargo owners and shunned by developing nations who represents carrier interest.

Rotterdam Rules Formally known as the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea is a treaty proposing new international rules to revise the legal framework for maritime affreightment and carriage of goods by sea. The Rules primarily address the legal relationship between carriers and cargo-owners. The aim of the convention is to extend and modernize existing international rules and achieve uniformity of International trade law in the field of maritime carriage, updating and/or replacing many provisions of the above. The convention establishes a comprehensive, uniform legal regime governing the rights and obligations of shippers, carriers and consignees under a contract for door-to-door shipments that involve international sea transport.

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PAN AFRICA

TRADE & TRANSPORT

Regional.AU Summit On Maritime Security, Safety & Development In AfricaThe Charter on Maritime Security and Safety and Development in Africa was signed on the concluding day of the 6-day African Union (AU) Extraordinary Summit on Maritime Security, Safety and Development in Lome, Togo. Among other things, the landmark Charter aims to prevent national and transnational crimes, including terrorism, piracy, armed robbery, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and illegal and unregulated fishing.

During the summit the AU leaders held discussions with experts and leaders from the business world in order to establish a roadmap on maritime security in Africa. The event built on the results of meetings held in Yaoundé in June 2013 and the Seychelles in 2015, to put in place an African strategy for protecting its seas and oceans. The strategy also seeks to provide peace, security and stability and to make African maritime space the key driver for sustainable economic development.

[Xinhua 17/11/16]

Studies On Transport Sector Highlight Opportunities For InvestmentThe Infrastructure Consortium for Africa [ICA] held a 1-day workshop themed “Support to the Transport Sector” at the African Development Bank [AfDB] headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The event discussed findings of 3-studies on opening up aviation services, urban transport development, and trade facilitation.

1 Aviation Insights into barriers prohibiting the expansion of effective aviation services across Africa.

2 Urban Transport Identifies specific opportunities for investment to improve sustainable urban transport and mobility in 5-African cities: Accra, Addis Ababa, Dakar, Dar es Salaam, and Lagos.

3 Trade Facilitation

Assesses the current transport and trade facilitation constraints in the West African Monetary Union [UEOMA] region and proposes solutions for improvement.

Participants reflected on how to implement key recommendations of the studies. These include: Establishing a consensus-building platform with key stakeholders to develop solutions in the aviation sector; Hosting an investors’ conference to discuss opportunities for improved urban transport projects delivery and; Establishing a unified tracking system that will see implementation of a centralized system to allow members track transactions, exchange data in real-time, and make electronic payments.

[AfDB 14/10/16]

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Regional

US$4.1 Billion Non-Oil Export Under American AGOAThe United States Government has stated that African countries accounted for US$4.1 billion worth of non-oil trade under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act [AGOA]. The scheme has resulted in a 4-fold increase, from US$1.4 billion in 2001 to US$4.1 billion in 2015, in the continent’s non-oil trade with the country. Sectors that have benefitted most from AGOA included automobiles, apparel, footwear, prepared fruits and vegetable, nuts and cut flowers.

However worried by the infrastructural deficit impeding trade growth, the U.S. recommended that African countries should focus on infrastructure development, in particular, electricity and transportation, and should build new roads, bridges and railways to link major trade hubs that would improve economies of scale. Also noting that Africa currently accounts for only 2% of U.S. trade, supply-side constraints, including unreliable electricity and transportation, poor ports, lack of transnational highways, and poor access to the internet are among the impediments to trade development on the continent. Other factors included low intra-Africa trade, which result in low economies of scale, and the difficulties faced by African producers in meeting U.S. agricultural and other standards.

Other Africa-focused trade development initiatives by the U.S. include the Millennium Challenge Corporation, which has set aside US$7.9 billion, or 68%of the total compact portfolio, for Africa. The Corporation, which, at US$3 billion, is the lead contributor to the U.S. Government’s trade capacity building assistance to AGOA-eligible countries, has dedicated 20 of its 33 compacts to African countries.

Other initiatives include Power Africa, the trade-related capacity programme administered under USAID and unveiled by U.S. President Barack Obama in 2013; Trade Africa, the USAID’s initiative to increase internal and regional trade and expand trade and economic ties; and the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the government’s development finance institution which mobilizes private capital to address critical development challenges and which provides investors with financing, political risk insurance, and support for private equity investment funds, when commercial funding cannot be obtained elsewhere.

[Guardian 19/10/16]

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PAN AFRICA

TRADE & TRANSPORT

Regional

Korea-Africa [KOAFEC] Ministerial Economic Summit in SeoulThe 5th Ministerial Conference of Korea-Africa [KOAFEC] was held 24-27th October 2016. The event brought together Ministers and delegations from the public and private sector from 47 African countries under the theme ‘Transforming Africa’s Agriculture through Industrialisation and Inclusive Finance’. Established jointly by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance of Korea, the African Development Bank Group [AfDB] and the Export-Import Bank of Korea in 2006, KOAFEC served as a comprehensive platform for promoting mutually beneficial partnership between Africa and Korea.

[APO 31/10/16]

Merkel Says Africa To Be Priority For German G20 PresidencyGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel, on a trip to Ethiopia, said she would make Africa a priority for Germany’s G20 presidency next year and outlined plans for a conference in Berlin. Merkel said Berlin would host a high-profile conference on Africa in mid-2017 to strengthen private investment to create sustainable growth and to expand infrastructure on the continent.

[Reuters 11/10/16]

Standard Bank Pushes Chinese Link With African CountriesStandard Bank, Africa’s largest lender, aims to become a bridge between China and Africa and its committed loans to Chinese companies together with local partner are set to hit the US$2-billion mark this year. To better serve both the Chinese and African markets, it has formed a strategic partnership with Industrial and Commercial Bank of China [ICBC], one of its major shareholders. The partnership means the bank can “operate on both sides of any trade.” With ICBC, the Bank has committed and syndicated loans to Chinese companies for US$3.8 billion in Africa this year, as well as another US$5 billion in the short to medium term.

[China Daily 02/11/16]

Maritime Security, Safety and Development SummitMembers of the Permanent Representative Committee [PRC] of the African Union [AU] held a meeting at the Assembly on Maritime Security, Safety and Development on 11 October where they examined the Draft African Union Charter on Maritime Security, Safety and Development and recommended it for further consideration by the Executive Council and subsequent adoption by the Summit.

[APO 12/10/16]

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9

PAN AFRICA

PORTS

RegionalTangier Med Terminal Places New Equipment OrderAPM Terminals has announced orders for 12 ultra-large remote-controlled ship-to-shore [STS] gantry cranes and 32 automated rail-mounted gantry cranes [RMG] to equip the new APM Terminals ‘MedPort Tangier’ [MPT] facility currently under construction at the Tanger-Med. The STS will be supplied by ZPMC of China and the RMGs from Austrian manufacturer Künz. The container pier will be the second operated by APM Terminals at the Tanger-Med port complex and will be designed to serve next-generation Ultra Large Container Ships [ULCS] with capacities up to 20,000 teu.

MPT will have a quay length of 1,200m, with an estimated design capacity of 3.00 Mteu. The terminal site in port complex two of Tanger Med however, has sufficient space to further extend the pier to 2,000m. Once fully developed around 2020, there could be a capacity of about 5.00 Mteu. Scheduled to open in 2019, the new terminal will effectively double the capacity of Tanger Med from about 3.50 Mteu today to some 6.50 Mteu.

The facility will be the third container pier in the port adding to the APMT and Eurogate and facilities in the port complex one. Launched in 2007 and 2008, respectively, these two terminals have near-identical dimensions and boast design capacities of about 1.75 Mteu each. Last year, Eurogate Tanger handled some 1.23 Mteu, while APMT counted about 1.70 Mteu in Morocco.

The first cranes for are slated to arrive at the end of 2017. Unlike all other STS at Tanger Med, the new cranes will feature full automation, including a remote crane operator located in an office building near the quay, a second trolley, and Optical Character Recognition [OCR] technology. The 32 RMG will be deployed in 16 container yard blocks, each serviced by two gantries. MPT will thus be the first automated terminal in Morocco. The two current facilities each use conventional gantries on the pier and rubber-tyred gantries in the yard. Between the pier and the yard, containers are shuttled by trucks.

[Alphaliner 25/10/16]10

Cote d’IvoireCote d’Ivoire Launches Key Economic Diversification PARCSI ProjectThe African Development Bank Group [AfDB] and the Ivorian Government have launched a major project aimed at diversifying the country’s economy. The Support to Industrial Sector Competitiveness Enhancement Project [PARCSI] will help increase the contribution of the industrial sector to GDP from 22% in 2014 to 40% by 2019. PARCSI aims to stimulate industrial competitiveness. It will help Ivorian businesses to adapt to market liberalization under the free-trade agreements. The project will address four of AfDB’s five operational priorities – the High 5s – namely: Feed Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa and Improve the quality of life for the people of Africa. The project is being funded with a grant of €13 million from the African Development Fund and Government support of €2 million.

[AfDB 21/10/16]

GuineaGuinea Announces Strategic Cooperation Partnership With ChinaChinese President Xi Jinping held talks with visiting Guinean President Alpha Conde in Beijing this month, and both decided to set up the China-Guinea comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation. The 2-leaders agreed to take the opportunity in implementing the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation [FOCAC] to expand 2-way cooperation in diversified areas, and ensure a broader future for China-Guinea ties.

[Xinhua 02/11/16]

11

WESTERN AFRICA

ECOWAS, TRADE & TRANSPORT

Morocco5th International Single Window ConferenceThe Moroccan PORTNET project and the African Alliance for Electronic Commerce joined forces to organize the 5th International Single Window Conference and Exhibition, under the auspices of the Moroccan ministries of transport and foreign trade.

PORTNET, which is a maritime Single Window, is a public company, launched in 2011 by the Moroccan National Agency of Ports. The PORTNET project was established in order to bolster the competitiveness of Moroccan ports at a time of impressive growth in container trade. The project is part of the implementation of the National plan for the simplification of procedures and the expansion to all trade-related operators of the use of Electronic Data Interchange [EDI], including the use of UN/EDIFACT – the only global standard for EDI. It is one of 15 strategic projects under the e-government plan of Morocco. The objectives of PORTNET include:

- Streamlined trade procedures - Advance submission of information, the use of controls in early stages of the supply chain - Single submission of data - Establishment of networks of partners in the port community systems - Practical use of international standards for trade facilitation and trade data exchange

[UNCTAD 04/11/16]12

NigeriaNigeria Seals Free Trade Zone ProjectThe Oyo state Governor has sealed a mega deal with Chinese company China Polaris for a US$2-billion Free Trade Zone [FTZ] Project to be sited along the Lagos/Ibadan expressway, Ibadan. The 1,000-ha FTZ, dubbed the ‘Polaris Pacesetter Free Trade Zone’, is expected to deal exclusively with the manufacturing of automotive products, solar power generation, medi-care and allied products, ornaments among others.

The first phase of the project, which comprises of 5-factories, is expected to be completed before the end of Q1 2017, while the entire project is expected to be completed in the next 2- years.

[ChannelsTV 02/11/16]

Katsina, Kano Dry Ports To Come On Stream SoonThe Secretary-General of the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission for Cooperation, Ambassador Abubakar Abduljalil-Sulaiman, said efforts were being made for the Funtua [Katsina] and Kano dry ports to come on stream. He noted authorities had commenced the construction of the dry port in Funtua where goods destined to the Northern states and Niger regions, bordering with Nigeria would be temporarily stored. And authorities are equally making consultations with financial backers and stakeholders for the realisation of the Dala dry port, Kano.

[The Eagle 03/11/16]

Economic Summit Wants Review Of Items Barred From Accessing ForexThe 22nd edition of the Nigeria Economic Summit [NES#22] ended with a call on the Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN] to urgently review the 41 items barred from accessing foreign exchange [FOREX] window for their importation into the country. A technical sub-committee identified challenges and recommended solutions and concluded 16 of the 41 items were primary inputs for producers’ of ‘Made in Nigeria’ products.

In June 2015, the CBN classified the items as “Not Valid for Foreign Exchange”, on grounds that they could easily be produced in Nigeria, rather than spend the country’s reserves to import. Some of the affected items include rice, cement, margarine, palm kernel, palm oil products, vegetable oils, meat and processed meat products and vegetables. Equally affected were wooden doors, furniture, toothpicks, glass/glassware, kitchen utensils, textiles, plastic/rubber products.

[Premium Times 14/10/16]

UNCTAD Program For National Trade Facilitation Committees Stakeholders of the Nigerian National Trade Facilitation Committee have successfully completed the first module of the UNCTAD Empowerment Programme for National Trade Facilitation Committees [NTFCs] organized within the framework of the “Transparent Trade Procedures in the region of the Economic Community of West African” project.

The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development [BMZ], represented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zumammenarbeit [GIZ].

The module is aimed at increasing Nigeria NTFC members’ understanding on trade facilitation benefits and impact on development as well as its implications for global supply chain management. It also aimed at improving knowledge of international trade facilitation standards and legal frameworks as well as the World Trade Organization [WTO] Trade Facilitation Agreement.

[UNCTAD 04/11/16]

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WESTERN AFRICA

ECOWAS, TRADE & TRANSPORT

CameroonScanners At Douala To Systematise Container InspectionThe Cameroonian Minister of Finance, Alamine Ousmane Mey, officially commissioned two new scanners for import-export goods inspection at Douala Port.

The arrival of the equipment will increase the collection of customs duties revenues, which are forecast to drop due to the Economic Partnership Agreements [EPA] which came into force between Cameroon and EU countries on 4 August.

The scanners will be used to implement systematic container inspections as opposed to random or targeted scanning. The scanners have a working capacity of 150 containers per hour.

[Business in Cameroon 18/10/16]14

PORTS WESTERN AFRICA

GhanaTema Port Enhancing Transparency & Trade FacilitationTo ensure trade facilitation and harmonisation in the sub-region, the World Bank, in collaboration with ECOWAS, are calling for reforms at Tema Port under a European Union [EU] funded ‘Improved and Facilitated Trade in West Africa Project’. The project aims to give the port a turnaround to improve the flow of regional and international trade, by unlocking transit challenges. The project will focus on reducing the time and cost to trade as well as increase border agency cooperation and coordination to encourage better flow of trade along the region’s major trading partners.

As part of the project, the World Bank has identified various areas within the port where there is need for reforms - specifically cross-cutting reforms, transit regime reforms and import and export reforms - to reposition the facility as the preferred trade hub in the sub-region. The project will improve trade in West Africa, specifically, transit trade along the region’s major trade corridors.

The €3.5 million project is a 4-year initiative that was launched in November 2014. The project seeks to support ECOWAS to improve trade in the sub-region as part of efforts to increase transparency, identify bottlenecks and develop a clear plan to support the overall improvement of export, import and transit processes. The reforms will eliminate hard copy documents, streamline cargo inspections and sampling processes, eliminate redundant fees and duties and address misalignment between operational hours of stakeholders/agencies. The project will focus on 3-main corridors: Tema-Ouagadougou, Abidjan-Ouagadougou and Niamey-Cotonou.

Other recommendations include simplifying complex transit documentation/fee process in the post-arrival phase, reduce delays caused by stripping transit containers at the port, address inefficiencies in the containers’ transit flows, and increased costs resulting from the application of VAT to transit processes. The bank also proposed the streamlining of scanning process for import and export containers, and providing solutions to inadequate holding yard for trucks. It will also ensure containerisation of transit cargo and VAT on transit service, streamlining transhipment processes and procedures, overloading, simplify transit procedures at the port as well as renewal of truck fleet.

A workshop, on October 10-11, brought together the private sector and selected public sector bodies from the Tema Port to review Port Assessment Process Maps. A discussion was held on how to use the maps as transparency tools to help level the playing field for traders and port service providers. A number of reform proposals were developed and aimed at improving and modernizing the port experience and to agree on a reform action plan to improve trade facilitation within the Tema Port.

[News Ghana 14/10/16]15

WESTERN AFRICA

PORTS

Ghana

Aecom Chosen For US$1.5 Billion Scheme To Triple Tema Port CapacityUS engineer Aecom has been chosen to manage the US$1.5 billion expansion of West Africa’s second largest port on behalf of its operator. The project involves the expansion of Tema Harbour, a deep-water port that presently has the capacity to process 1 million TEU per year. The aim is to triple that by dredging a 19m deep access channel, adding 4-container berths along a 1.4km quay and building a 4km breakwater.

The work is being undertaken for Meridian Port Services [MPS], a Joint Venture [JV] between the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority [GPHA] and Meridian Port Holdings, a JV between French operator Bolloré and its Dutch counterpart APM Terminals. Aecom is to manage the design and procurement of the project and will also supervise its construction phase. The work, which will be carried out by China Harbour Engineering, is due to be completed in 2019.

In all 6-regional ports are to expand their capacity beyond the 1 million mark. These include Lomé Container Terminal in Togo, Badagry and Lekki ports in Nigeria, Dakar in Senegal, Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon is working on the Kribi project.

[GCR 10/10/16]

Agility Opens Ghana’s First Logistics Park in TemaAgility, a leading global logistics and infrastructure provider, has opened a distribution park near Ghana’s main port of Tema, the first of a network of logistics parks it intends to build across Africa, bringing world-class warehousing and logistics capabilities. Tenants at the 45-acre Ghana Agility Distribution Park in the Tema Port Free Trade Zone Enclave include multinationals entering the West African market and small and medium-size Ghanaian companies using the park to expand their operations in light manufacturing and export and import.

Agility is also developing distribution parks in Cote D’Ivoire, Tanzania, Nigeria, Mozambique and Angola. It has additional sites available in Senegal, Mauritius and Cameroon.

[News Ghana 31/10/16]

Gas Project Approval To Impact Tema PortThe subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation [NNPC], West African Gas, has secured approval from the Ghanaian Parliament for a gas supply project to include the leasing of Floating Storage and Regasification Units [FSRU], the dredging and extension of the breakwater at the Tema Port by at least 300m. Other components include a general upgrade and enhancement of the Ports and Harbour and the laying of an 8km pipeline from the Tema jetty to a metering station to be built. It also includes construction of a 320m jetty, among other auxiliary works.

[My Joy 30/10/12]

16

Ghana.Takoradi Container Terminal Nears CompletionConstruction works on the Takoradi Container Terminal which forms part of the extension of the Takoradi port is expected to be completed in November 2016. When fully operational, the Takoradi container terminal will have a holding capacity of 7500 T of imported containers. It will also be linked by both road and rail on the eastern side to the port of Takoradi. The Takoradi Container Terminal will serve as a one-stop-shop for all container procedures where it will house customs and other state agencies required in the clearance process. The container terminal in partnership with the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority [GPHA] has secured 8700m2 of space to undertake the receipt and delivery of containers.

[Business News 25/10/16]

GuineaGuinea Inks US$770m Contract With Chinese Firm To Develop ConakryChina Harbour Engineering Company [CHEC] has signed a US$770 million contract with Guinea’s government to upgrade Conakry port, expanding Chinese economic influence in the West African iron and bauxite producer. Under the contact, CHEC, a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Co Ltd, will construct 3-docks, roads and other infrastructure in the eastern zone of the port, providing parking for up to 600 trucks. The port in Conakry handles nearly all goods shipped into Guinea, and to some landlocked neighbours like Mali. French logistics giant Bollore Group runs the port’s adjacent containers terminal. Meanwhile the International Monetary Fund [IMF] expects roughly 5% economic growth this year, up from 0% in 2015, driven by gains in the mining, agriculture and energy sectors.

[Reuters 25/10/16]

With the completion of this project extending the Autonomous Port of Conakry, it will become the largest in the sub-region.

Ding Jialong, CHEC director in Guinea

“ ”17

WESTERN AFRICA

PORTS

NigeriaBadagry Deep Sea Port Will Make Lagos Africa’s 5th Largest EconomyThe US$2.6 billion Badagry Deep Sea Port Project is to be a major turning point to bring about global growth to Nigeria. At a recent meeting between APM Terminals [Maersk Group] and Nigerian Chief Ernest Shonekan noted the project was on course. Beginning back in 2012 the 1000-ha port and free zone is expected to be the largest deep sea port in Africa. The project is to include a container terminal, oil and gas services and a liquid bulk terminal, with general cargo and Ro-Ro facilities.

Meanwhile Shonekan confirmed that talks were ongoing to reach financial close on Lot 3 of the Mile 2-Seme 10-lane highway expansion that would complement the port project. Furthermore the Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] with China Railway Construction Corporation in respect of the Warri-Ajaokuta-Obaro-Abuja central rail project on Public Private Partnership [PPP] arrangement. The move is part of the Government’s effort to ensure that a substantive amount of import and export cargoes are moved through the rail systems. The MoU also covers the construction and expansion of Warri Port and Harbour, construction of deep-sea port and construction of industrial park at Port Harcourt and Bonny Island.

[Guardian 29/10/16]

SenegalDP World To Boost Economic Development DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem reiterated the company’s commitment to supporting the economic growth of Senegal and developing Dakar into a major logistics hub and gateway for West Africa during a meeting with Senegalese President Macky Sall. The visit was part of Bin Sulayem’s annual Africa tour calling at existing DP World operations while meeting other heads of state and business leaders to explore trade links and solutions connecting Africa to the world. DP World is developing the Port Du Futur and the free zone located in the vicinity of the new airport.

[Khaleej Times 16/10/16]

Sierra LeoneFreetown Terminal ExpansionBolloré Ports has officially started construction works on 14th October in the presence of H.E. Honourable Ernest Bai Koroma, President of Sierra Leone and the Minister of Transport Mr. Leonard Balogun Koroma. Works will extend the container terminal at Freetown to include construction of 270m quay extension at depth of 13m in addition to the existing 707m. The US$120 million project, which will be entirely financed by the operator, will cover a total of 3.5 ha and include the establishment of a power plant for the facility.

Two gantry cranes will be set up from the start to significantly improve productivity of the Port of Freetown. The new & ultramodern dock will accommodate larger vessels up to 6,000 TEU, taking the total capacity of the container terminal to 750,000 TEUs [against 90,000 to date]. Delivery of the work is scheduled for September 2018.

[Port Technology 17/10/16]

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RegionalEconomic Partnership AgreementsKenya will continue enjoying duty-free and quota-free access for its goods to the European Union [EU] even if neighbouring countries fail to approve the Economic Partnership Agreements [EPAs]. Kenya will, however, not enjoy other benefits that come with the EPA until all East African Community [EAC] partners ratify the deal. Among the benefits that will remain pending are the rules of origin, a provision that allows Kenyan exporters to enjoy duty- free access to the European market despite their goods being made using raw materials sourced from other countries until all EAC members ratify the agreement Kenya and Rwanda signed the European trade deal in September, but it needs approval from all members of the East African Community [EAC] bloc, which also includes Burundi, Tanzania and Uganda, to take full effect. Burundi and Uganda have indicated they are willing to sign the deal, but Tanzania has declined to ratify it citing adverse effects on its industrial ambitions. It was feared that Kenya will lose the most without the deal signed, as other member states would still continue getting duty- and quota-free access under EU’s Everything But Arms initiative since they are classified as Least Developed Countries [LCD’s].

The trade deal with the EU gives EAC member states duty- and quota-free access for their goods to the EU as long as they meet the set health and safety standards. EAC member states initialised an interim EPA deal in 2007 and another in 2014. Governments were given 2-years from the October 2014 agreement to ratify the deal in national parliaments. Failure to ratify the deal would have seen Kenyan face a Sh10 billion-a-year tax on exports to the EU market and put to risk exports of more than Sh120 billion. This would make its produce - mainly cut flowers, tea, fresh vegetables and coffee - uncompetitive in the EU market.

The decision by Tanzania to pull out of the deal at the last minute after 13 years of negotiations has put to question the EAC’s willingness to work as a bloc.

[Business Daily 27/10/16]

Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda Real-Time Transit Cargo Tracking Starts JanuaryKenya, Uganda and Rwanda will from January jointly monitor cargo movement in real-time from the port of Mombasa. This follows the award of a contract to a Malaysian firm, BSmart, to roll out the platform. The 3-countries will use the Electronic Cargo Tracking System [ECTS] as a single customs tool to curb theft and dumping of goods on the northern corridor [Mombasa-Kampala-Kigali highway]. It is envisaged that the platform will seal loopholes for revenue losses as a result of under-declaration of the value of exports by rogue traders.

The upgraded system was successfully piloted by the Uganda Revenue Authority [URA] and was initially meant to be implemented in June. Delay in negotiations, however, saw the start date pushed back to December 30 this year. Electronic seals, which give the precise location of goods in real time, will be attached to cargo at Mombasa. The system will track consignments using satellites backed by a monitoring centre and a rapid response team. A central command centre will be established in Nairobi and 13 rapid response stations established throughout the country to act on any incident. An alarm is triggered whenever there is diversion from the designated route, an unusually long stopover or when someone attempts to open a container.

The Ugandan system will also be integrated with the Rwanda Revenue Authority ECTS which was also developed by the Malaysian firm to give a single view of cargo and customs control to all the revenue authorities. Each country previously had separate cargo tracking systems, presenting loopholes due to lack of seamless monitoring. The seals used on the joint electronic platform funded by TradeMark East Africa [TMEA] will be offered as a free service to importers, exporters, clearing agents and transporters conveying goods on the Mombasa-Kampala-Kigali highway. After the first 3-years of implementation “a decision will be made on the way forward” with regards to cost of the seals. The system is expected to accelerate clearance of cargo from the Kilindini port in Mombasa, minimise transit diversion and ensure seamless movement of goods.

[Business Daily 26/10/16]

19

EASTERN AFRICA

EAC, COMESA & TRADE

RwandaNew Committee To Facilitate Trade In RwandaA new committee meant to advise and support government in undertaking interventions that enhance business competitiveness and further ease of doing business in the country has been inaugurated in Kigali. The National Trade Facilitation Committee [NTFC], to be headed by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, was constituted in line with laws establishing the World Trade Organisation [WTO] meant to enable least developed countries reduce costs of global trade. It will oversee implementation of initiatives on trade facilitation, in part to reduce challenges faced by exporters and importers in the country. The committee will be deputised by the Rwanda Revenue Authority as a key imple¬menting agency.

Rwanda has arguably been a champion of trade reforms. With partners like TradeMark East Africa [TMEA], the Government has already implemented a number of trade facilitation interventions. These include the Rwanda Electronic Single Window, which speeds up the process of clearing imports and exports in addition to improving efficiency, transparency and accountability in revenue collection. The World Bank Doing Business Report 2015 also ranked Rwanda 46th out of 189 coun¬tries from 143th place in 2008, signalling a significant improvement in the trade regula¬tory environment in the country that is condu¬cive to start and operate a business.

[UNCTAD 04/11/16]20

KenyaLAPSSET Project Receives New Breath Of LifeThe Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia transport corridor [LAPSSET] project has received a major boost after a consortium of international investors led by the Development Bank of South Africa [DBSA] said that they will help finance the project to the tune of US$1.9 billion. The project recently slowed its momentum over insufficient funding. However investors are now interested in putting up three berths at the Lamu Port and financing the construction of the 537-km Lamu-Garissa-Isiolo road. Both the Kenyan and the South African government signed a Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] on the Sh2.5 trillion projects during the visit by President Jacob Zuma recently.

The LAPSSET project is expected to open up Kenya’s northern frontier for more trade and investment, and has been identified as the long term conduit for Kenya’s oil exports through a crude pipeline linking Lamu to the oilfields in Turkana County. But the project has been hit by contraction delays due to financial problems after several financing countries withdrew.

[CR 18/10/16]

Rise In Import Duty At Mombasa PortA duty increase on imported goods has caused a clearance clog at the Port of Mombasa, with more than 1,000 containers piling up uncollected. This is after the Kenya Revenue Authority [KRA] increased tariffs 3-months ago. The increase has affected commodities such as rice, tyres, batteries, powdered milk and linen. The duty on imported goods has seen jumps from around US$200 [Sh20,000] per tonne to US$580 [Sh58,000], overburdening many clearing and forwarding agents. The tariffs are part of the EAC common external tariffs.

[Daily Nation 06/11/16]

New Police Unit To Escort Transit Cargo From Mombasa PortThe government has deployed 200 police officers to escort transit cargo from Mombasa Port to curb diversions. The newly established Northern Corridor Transit Patrol Unit comes a few months after an order by President Kenyatta on September 3 when he commissioned the Sh30 billion container terminal at the port.

[Star 04/11/16]

Uganda-Bound Cargo Retains Lead Position At PortThe Port of Mombasa handled 21,458 TEU at its 2-container terminals by October 5. The Kenya Ports Authority [KPA] said 8-container ships called in to discharge 10,551 TEUs and load another 10,907 TEU. The port imported 1,849 TEU for the local market and 3,799 TEUs for transit, with Uganda maintaining its lead position of 2,795 TEU. Tanzania-bound cargo came in a distant second with 326 TEU, followed by South Sudan with 238 TEU, the Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC] with 234 TEU, and Rwanda with 110 TEUs. A total of 9,681 TEU were delivered by road, against just 270 TEU by rail. The average ship working time was 1.88 days whilst the dwell time was 3.46 days.

[Standard Digital 18/10/16]

21

EASTERN AFRICA

PORTS

TanzaniaEU Envoys To Boost Port For CommerceAmbassadors from the European Union [EU] member states want to see East African ports improved in order to better handle international trade. The envoys from 11 EU countries visited Tanga Port to familiarise themselves with the facilities including the site where a jetty would be built at Chongoleani.

A separate port at Mwambani south of Tanga is still on the cards and is deemed viable despite competition from the Mombasa and Dar es Salaam ports. The project involves the construction of a new railway line from Musoma to Arusha that will be connected to the Tanga-Arusha line that has to be revamped. Interest in the port has grown dramatically after the announcement of the construction of the 1,444 km, crude oil pipeline from Hoima in Uganda to Tanga. The Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC] has also announced plans to use the pipeline to ferry crude oil from Eastern Congo.

[Citizen 27/10/16]

22

South Africa8th BRICS SummitThe 8th BRICS [Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa] Summit took place from 15-16 October 2016. During the 2-day event, President Zuma held bilateral meetings with all 4-BRICS leaders: President Xi Jingping of China; President Putin of Russian; Prime Minister Modi of India, and President Temer of Brazil. South Africa committed to building responsive, inclusive and collective solutions to the world economic challenges. The leaders discussed bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual concern aimed at achieving development, economic growth and prosperity, as well as peace and security.

Under the theme of the Summit, the BRICS leaders held interactive roundtable discussions on strengthening intra-BRICS cooperation and reflected on global issues such as international conflicts, the fight against terrorism, and reform of the global system of governance, notably the democratisation of the United Nations and the Bretton Woods Institutions.

The BRICS leaders met with the BRICS Business Council where they received the Council’s Annual Report on economic developments and projects, including the initiatives undertaken by its Working Groups. The Leaders further directed the Council to accelerate the development and realisation of joint projects which, on a mutually beneficial basis, should contribute to the economic objectives of BRICS.

[APO 17/10/16]

BRICS Policy Needs To Benefit South AfricaWhile exports between Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa [BRICS] countries have been growing at an average of 2.8% a year since 2010, South Africa’s export basket continues to be dominated by primary products and low-value-added products. As such, South African Trade and Industry Minister, Dr Rob Davies, has stressed the need for BRICS nations to identify complementarities, share experiences and promote capacity building in a number of trade- and investment-related issues.

While attending the BRICS Trade Ministers meeting, Davies also welcomed joint studies to inform cooperation in a number of policy areas to assist development of a coordinated position.

BRICS countries need to cooperate on the development of small, medium-sized and microenterprises [SMMEs], with growth targeted towards promoting supplier development, the participation of SMMEs in the BRICS countries’ value-chains, and the exchange of best practices in terms of development.

[Engineering News 14/10/16]

23

SOUTHERN AFRICA

SADC, BRICS, TRADE & TRANSPORT

South Africa

South Africa Plans Major Transport Spend South Africa’s government has called investment in infrastructure “a policy priority” as it aims to improve transport links across the country. Finance Minister Gordhan tabled the 2016 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement [MTBPS] which outlines plans to spend US$24 billion upgrading transport and logistics. This spending will continue work already started to improve heavy transport infrastructure in South Africa. The MTBPS expects the review to be completed by October 2017

Over the past 3-years, Transnet has significantly increased its capacity through investment in new locomotives and rail infrastructure. Capacity has grown by 26.4 million tons in the general freight business, 9 million tons on the export coal line and 7.2 million tons on the export iron ore line.

[Transnet 28/10/16]24

South Africa

.Preferential Trade Agreement Between MERCOSUR & SACUSouth Africa has completed all the administrative processes to facilitate the implementation of the Southern African Customs Union SACU [Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland] and the Common Market of the South MERCOSUR [Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay] Preferential Trade Agreement [PTA] as from 21 October 2016. SACU has offered concessions on 1,062 tariff lines and MERCOSUR offered concessions on 1,052 tariff lines. The tariffs will be reduced immediately on entry into force of the Agreement.

[SA DTI 27/10/16]

Third Italy-South Africa SummitThe 3rd Italy-South Africa summit, organised by The European House - Ambrosetti with the support of the Italian Embassy in Johannesburg, was attended by some 200 Italian and African businessmen. Areas of focus included agrofood, automotive, energy and ICT.

[Italian Government 03/11/16]

South Africa/ZimbabweBi-National Commission Launched To Set Up OSBPPresident Mugabe and President Zuma launched the Bi-National Commission, a high level forum of co-operation, which the two leaders say will foster economic development. Among the immediate key targets of the Commission is the establishment of a One-Stop-Border-Post [OSBP] at Beitbridge-Musina. The development is expected to promote trade through efficient clearance procedures. The 2-countries also agreed to constitute a Joint Investment Trade and Investment Committee by Q1 2017 to steer growing economic co-operation.

[Herald 03/11/16]

25

SOUTHERN AFRICA

SADC, BRICS, TRADE & TRANSPORT

NamibiaNamport To Focus On Cargo Volume GrowthAccording to the Namport CEO Bisey Uirab, the Namibia Ports Authority [Namport] will during the next financial year focus on growing its cargo volumes. Uirab made this statement at the official opening of the 2016 Namport Trade Expo noting volumes took a sharp nosedive due to the prevailing global economic meltdown. Cargo volumes have declined sharply while operating costs increased. The current forex situation has a pronounced negative impact not only on the cost of imports, but also on the contract sums payable in terms of foreign currency-based major contracts.

Namport is to seek ways to improve performance and efficiencies whilst curbing costs and harnessing the economic growth opportunities presented by the ocean. It will fine-tuned its strategy and focused on projects which develop capacity to service both container and general cargo and current and future demands. Focus will be on the blue economy and its 4-main pillars, namely fisheries, energy and mining, tourism and marine transportation.

[New Era 01/11/16]

Usakos Proposed As New Dry PortThe Annual Transport and Logistics workshop held in Swakopmund showcased how a dry port for Usakos has the potential to turn the idle town into a logistic and transport hub with N$2 billion output. In a presentation Transport Economist, John Saunderson noted the envisioned study will take 3-6 months to complete as part of a wider national logistics plan. The consulting firm, Amir Consulting Services is set to determine strategic and optimal locations and Public Private Partnerships [PPP] to carry out similar transport and logistic infrastructure projects to power Sub-Saharan Africa. The study, will need a considerable buy-in of about N$7.5 million from stakeholders, mostly state-owned players such as TransNamib and NamPort who already have existing infrastructure near Usakos.

Usakos is strategically located on the confluence of the Trans-Kalahari Corridor and the Trans-Caprivi Corridor. It has always been a throughway to the west coast due to the impassable steep geographic relief obstructing access to Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. The study will address access and mobility as well as environmental impact assessments, benefit-cost studies, and project planning.

[Economist 14/10/16]

26

PORTS SOUTHERN AFRICA

South AfricaTransnet Port Projects Under Operation PhakisaThe Transnet National Ports Authority [TNPA] is playing a key role in the South African government’s Operation Phakisa, the Oceans Economy initiative that aims to grow the economy through marine transport and manufacturing. Greenfield projects earmarked include new capacity creation projects at the Ports of Saldanha, Richards Bay, and East London. These are planned as public participation partnerships [PSPs]. All new build projects under Operation Phakisa are expected to be fully operational by December 2019.

[Biz Community 28/10/16]

Saldanha 3-key facilities are envisaged to service the offshore oil and gas industry supported by developments in the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone [IDZ]. A bidder is expected to be appointed by the end of December 2016 to develop South Africa’s first offshore supply base, which could operate as an Oil and Gas multipurpose terminal. The expression of interest closed on 2 August for the lengthening of the Port’s Mossgas finger jetty to accommodate rigs repairs and TNPA was now considering responses. The expression of interest for the construction and operation of a new dedicated deepwater rig repair berth as berth 205 also closed in August.

Richards Bay TNPA is looking into procuring a flexible ship repair facility through the private sector. This would allow the industry to identify opportunities in oil and gas support, ship repair and associated marine manufacturing activities supported by the Richards Bay IDZ at the port. Potential sites for these projects are identified as the undeveloped Causarina area of the port and the repair quay.

East London TNPA is looking at creating a new boat building industry with a focus on potential niche markets of tug boats and navy vessels which include the currently underutilised Dry Dock complex. This would require the upgrade and refurbishment of the existing dry dock infrastructure and the old slipway. The expression of interest for the project closed in August 2016.

CAPACITY CREATION PROJECTS

27

SOUTHERN AFRICA

PORTS

South Africa.Durban Harbour Goes Hi-TechTransnet is using drones to improve operations at the Durban harbour. Details of a three month trial drone programme emerged at the African Ports Evolution conference. Uses include delivering packages to ships and monitoring the notorious congestion on Bayhead Road. In the future, drones may even be used to pilot ships into port, reducing the need to send a pilot to the vessel. Durban will have 2-aerial drones and 3-aquatic drones. The latter will monitor water quality and also perform hull inspections. Other technologies being tested for use in the port included satellite tracking and mobile applications.

[IOL 19/10/16]

Port Refurbishments At An Advanced StageThe Transnet National Ports Authority [TNPA] is at an advanced stage of refurbishing existing ship repair facilities at the ports of Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, Mossel Bay and Cape Town.

[Biz Community 28/10/16]

Port Elizabeth The boat repair facility has been refurbished and extended and a new 90-T boat hoist and 40-T slipway have been introduced. This has increased the port’s servicing capacity from 3 to 10 fishing trawlers.

Durban The dry dock’s outer caisson was refurbished at a cost of R35 million while the rehabilitation options for the dry dock’s inner caisson have been finalised for tender. A concrete refurbishment programme is scheduled to be completed by the end of October. New cranes are being procured towards the modernisation of the precinct’s Workshop 24 and pump house. The existing floating dock was also being assessed by specialists to determine the possibility and extent of repairs required ahead of a decision to build a new large floating dock locally.

Cape Town The Synchrolift Traverser repairs were completed in February 2016. Specialist studies are underway for the refurbishments and upgrades at the Sturrock Dry Dock and Robinson Dry Dock. New circulating pumps have been installed at the Sturrock Dry Dock. TNPA will be replacing 10-cranes at the Durban Dry Dock complex and 10-cranes at the Cape Town Dry Dock complex. Transnet SOC Ltd is developing a procurement strategy and finalising the governance process to partner with original equipment manufacturers to supply 20-cranes as part of Operation Phakisa. The envisaged partnerships will serve to localise manufacturing capability in the production and supply of cranes

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