The Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) has proudly facilitated the successful transport of a 50-meter oxygen plant container to Solwezi, the capital of Zambia’s North-Western Province, renowned for its mineral wealth. This monumental logistical achievement involved moving the 171-ton oxygen plant, sourced from Malaysia, along the 2,900-kilometer Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Development Corridor. The journey began at Namibia’s Port of Walvis Bay, a critical logistics hub for Southern Africa. Known for its
Category: Southern Africa
Angola’s Lobito Atlantic Railway Expands with Arrival of 275 New Container Wagons
The first batch of 275 new container wagons, purchased from South Africa’s Galison Manufacturing, has arrived in Lobito, Angola, to enhance the transport capacity of the Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR). This strategic investment is part of LAR’s broader expansion and modernization plan, aimed at boosting railway infrastructure over the next three years. Arriving earlier this week, the new wagons are equipped with a modern pneumatic braking system and a lightweight
U.S.-China Collaboration Along Africa’s Lobito Corridor Could Unlock Green Growth Potential
Originally scheduled for October 13-15, President Joe Biden’s visit to Angola was set to be historic—the first by a sitting U.S. president to an African nation in nearly a decade. While Hurricane Milton delayed the trip, the urgency to reschedule remains high due to its strategic significance, emphasizing Africa’s growing role in global economics. Angola, along with regional neighbors Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is emerging as
Grindrod Halts Mozambique Port Operations Amid South Africa Border Closure and Unrest
Logistics company Grindrod has suspended port and terminal operations in Mozambique following South Africa’s temporary closure of the main border with its northeastern neighbor. The border closure was enacted over safety concerns due to violent post-election protests in Mozambique, which human rights organizations report have resulted in at least 18 deaths. The suspension is expected to impact goods and commodities transport in a region already grappling with logistical bottlenecks. State-owned
SARS Approves Year-Long Jet Fuel Importation to Prevent Holiday Airport Fuel Crisis
South African Revenue Service (SARS) Commissioner Edward Kieswetter has authorized a special year-long exemption to allow the importation of jet fuel, preventing a potential supply shortage at OR Tambo International Airport and other major airports over the busy December travel period. The exemption, effective from October 21, 2024, to October 20, 2025, comes after concerns were raised by the fuel industry about a looming shortage of jet fuel, or aviation
Galp Energia Prepares for Major Drilling Operations Off Namibia with Santorini Drillship
A drillship formerly active in the Baleine offshore exploration area off Côte d’Ivoire has arrived off the coast of Namibia, where it is set to conduct single-well drilling for Portuguese energy multinational Galp Energia. The Santorini, owned by Italian oilfield services company Saipem SpA, is part of a significant investment totaling N$2.1 billion by Galp, following exploratory drilling in January 2023. Currently stationed off Long Beach between Walvis Bay and
Transnet to Enhance Straddle Carrier Operations at Durban Container Terminals
Transnet has announced that component parts for 20 straddle carriers used at Durban Container Terminals (DCT) will be received by the end of November. This response comes as the state-owned logistics utility addresses ongoing equipment inefficiencies at DCT Pier 2. In a recent port update, Transnet acknowledged the low availability of straddle carriers, stating, “Despite our ongoing efforts, we are still experiencing low availability of straddle carriers, which is impacting
Namibia’s Tridock Shipyard to Launch $728 Million Drydock Facility at Walvis Bay
Tridock Shipyard Namibia (Pty) Ltd has unveiled plans for a cutting-edge drydock facility at Walvis Bay, projected to cost $728 million. The facility, expected to generate an initial annual revenue of US$150 million (N$2.7 billion), aims to double this revenue within three years of operation, according to a recent report in Mining & Energy. The project will create approximately 1,000 direct jobs, along with a range of downstream employment opportunities,
Port of Cape Town Welcomes Record-Breaking MSC Ines
The Port of Cape Town has reached a significant milestone by accommodating the MSC Ines, the longest vessel ever to dock at the Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT). The 348.5-meter vessel surpassed the previous record of 336 meters for ‘length overall restrictions’ at the port. MSC Director of Operations, Captain Ian Rosario, attributed this achievement to the guidance of Harbourmaster Captain Alex Miya and Deputy Harbourmaster Captain Marcus Rammutloa, along
Transnet Pushes Forward with Review Process Amid Durban Terminal Dispute
Transnet has announced it will act quickly to advance Part B of the review process for the Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 2 dispute, pledging to proceed “without undue delay.” On Friday, the state-owned company (SOC) issued a statement confirming it would soon petition the court for a preferential hearing date for the review. The statement follows a Durban High Court ruling this week in which APM Terminals (APMT), a