Mozambique highlights

[John Ashworth]

HIGHLIGHTS IN MOZAMBIQUE

On February 7, 2012 In Mozambique

The ports at Beira, Maputo and Quelimane in Mozambique have all seen major dredging. Beira and Maputo, previously restricted to ships with 40,000 ton capacity are now able to handle 60,000 tonne vessels.

Mozambican transport minister Paulo Zucula has told the country’s parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, that the Ressano Garcia line from Maputo to South Africa now has the capacity to carry 14 million tonnes of traffic a year, including five million tonnes of South African coal and magnetite for export from Maputo.

For the first time, trains now carry motor vehicles along this line. Previously, vehicles imported by Mozambique were unloaded at the South African port of Durban and taken by road to Maputo. Now the situation has been reversed: large ships can dock in Maputo, thanks to the dredging of the access channel, and so vehicles are unloaded in Maputo – not only for Mozambique, but also for the northern regions of South Africa, reaching their destination along the Ressano Garcia line. The Maputo-Swaziland line has been rebuilt, and is carrying passengers with greater comfort, speed and safety. From Beira, regular passenger trains are operating again to Marromeu (on the south bank of the Zambezi) and coal exports are moving along the Sena line from Moatize in Tete province to the port.

Zucula admitted there had been no improvement in the Limpopo line, linking Beira to Zimbabwe, which had been concessioned to the Indian companies Rites and Ircon International. This deal has been cancelled and CFM is to upgrade the line itself.

EXPANSION AT MAPUTO

On February 7, 2012 In Mozambique

Combined effort by the Mozambique government, Caminhos de ferro do Moçambique (CFM – the state railway & harbours) and Transnet Freight Rail has resulted in significantly improved goods movement by rail to and from Maputo. Facilities at the port have been substantially upgraded, and some US$70 million has been invested in refurbishing the nearby Terminal de Carvão da Matola (TCM), and expanding its capacity to 6mta. Dredging of the port channel, completed in 2011, made it possible for ships up to Panamax size to enter the harbour.

Expanding capacity further at TCM is the subject of a current feasibility study. Investment of about $US 800 million in both port and rail infrastructure is envisaged.

PROJECTIONS FOR MOZAMBIQUE’S LIMPOPO LINE

On February 7, 2012 In Mozambique

The Limpopo line of Caminhos de ferro do Moçambique (CFM – the state railway & harbours) is expected to carry some 700,000 tonnes of coal and other goods in 2012. This projection is based on signs of improvement in the economic situation in Zimbabwe, and growing regional interest in the port of Maputo for international trade. The 522km railway, running from the Indian Ocean to the Zimbabwe border at Chicualacuala, was rebuilt in 2004 following extensive flood damage but there has been little demand for goods traffic to and from Zimbabwe since then. The line was leased to Rail India Technical and Economic Services Ltd (Rites) together with the Sena Line but CFM – disappointed with the company’s performance, especially with regard to infrastructure maintenance – has taken back the operation. CFM Board Chairman Rosario Mualeia says maintenance is to be stepped up to optimise capacity, which should be close to 2 mta. He told Radio Mozambique: “We already have customers who want to move 500,000 tonnes of ferrochrome along the line.”

All from Railways Africa:

http://www.railwaysafrica.com/blog/2012 ... dium=email

http://www.railwaysafrica.com/blog/2012 ... dium=email

http://www.railwaysafrica.com/blog/2012 ... dium=email