BILLIONS to be pumped into port

The Namibian Ports Authority (NamPort) will spend over N$3 billion to consolidate its position as the gateway to Southern Africa.

NamPort has already sought the approval of Cabinet for the construction of a modern container terminal at its Walvis Bay harbour which is expected to increase the container handling capacity.

Liz Sibindi, Manager: Corporate Communication at NamPort says as the 2008 financial crisis has forced shipping lines to relook at all their shipping schedules with the emphasis on cutting costs, the port of Walvis Bay has to increase its container handling capacity drastically. This will cost about N$2, 7 billion.

At the same time, the company intends to invest in two other projects to the amount of about N$1, 2 billion.

Sibindi expressed the hope that the projects will still get off the ground this year with the establishment of a new Container Terminal for Walvis Bay which will be the priority. The proposed terminal will see the creation of 30 hectares of new land reclaimed from the bay within the port of Walvis Bay’s current port jurisdiction. “The reclaimed land will be created by dredging or deepening the port and using the sand obtained from the deepening to form the new land,” she said.

Sibindi explained that the reclaimed land will be linked to the existing port land by a causeway. She added that the container terminal will consist of quay walls, paved areas, buildings, roads, railway lines, shop to shore quay cranes, and rubber tired gantry cranes, amongst others.

“The new container terminal will have a capacity of at least 600 000 Tonnes Equivalent Unit (TEU) per annum and will have room for optimisation and expansion. It will not only increase container handling capacity but it will also increase the ports bulk and break handling capacity by freeing up the existing container terminal to become a multi-purpose terminal.” The estimated cost of this entire project is N$2, 75 billion if construction commences this year.

Tanker berth

The second project is that of a new Walvis Bay tanker berth which will see the construction of a new modern marine petroleum offloading facility.

“The new tanker berth will be constructed to accommodate larger tanker vessels/ fuel carriers. It will replace the current facility which has reached the end of its design life in 2010 when it turned 50 years old.”

Sibindi said that the new tanker berth would be built at a location some distance off-shore so as to ensure that these dangerous liquid petroleum products are handled at a secure location.

The cost of the new tanker berth project will cost around N$650 million, provided that the construction also starts this year.

Thirdly, NamPort has set its sight on a new Walvis Bay ship and rig repair yard. The yard will see the construction of a new jetty suitable for accommodating two large semi-submersible oil rigs as well as drill ships.

According to Sibindi, the oil rigs and drill ships will be berthed at the new jetty and then repaired or worked on by private marine contractors from Walvis Bay.

“NamPort has realised several years ago that the ship and rig repair operations in Walvis Bay have great potential in terms of direct new employment creation in the local mechanical engineering industry.” The cost of phase 1 of the project is estimated at N$600 million, once again provided that construction starts in 2012.

The last project entails the expansion of the Lüderitz Port.

“NamPort has just completed a comprehensive feasibility study that looked critically at various potential infrastructure projects that could stimulate economic growth in Lüderitz and in Southern Namibia as a whole.”

Sibindi added that the projects that were identified are currently being scrutinised and analysed after which implementation plans will be drawn up based on a careful prioritisation of key projects in the Port of Lüderitz.

click to enlarge EXPANDING: An aerial view of the port of Walvis Bay. NamPort is seeking a green light from Cabinet to spend over N$3 billion on the expansion of the harbour © NAMPORT