Port authorities in South Africa and Mozambique have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which will see Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) and the Maputo Ports Development Company (MPDC) co-operating together.

Tau Morwe, TNPA’s chief executive says, “The MoU opens up collaboration on matters of common interest in areas of infrastructure development, engineering, training and marine services. Contrary to popular belief TNPA and the MPDC are not competitors and the agreement will open up opportunities for a closer working relationship and sharing of knowledge.”

Adds Osorio Lucas, chief executive at MPDC, “Through this co-operation, the intention of fostering competitiveness and growth fulfils the realisation of the MPDC’s vision of propelling the region forward. It is an important step toward fostering greater intra-regional co-operation which is a key priority of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa).”

Regional integration is in line with Transnet’s Market Demand Strategy that among its imperatives calls for a review of the state owned entity’s role in the development of the North-South logistics corridor.

Morwe states, “We believe that in a spirit of co-operation we can be exponentially more efficient and play a key role in lifting intra-regional trade within the SADC region from its current level of 12%.  What we can achieve remains to be seen, but we should aspire to achieve the figures of other leading regional economic communities such as those of Asia and Europe where intra-regional trade is in the region of 60%.”

The signing of the MoU is the formalisation of discussions that have been developed through extensive bilateral talks and visits over an extended period of time.

Other areas of collaboration include assistance with the unbundling of the MPDC into Port Authority and Port Operations, the transition of cargo from road to rail, nautical matters.

Conclude Morwe, “In reality it means that the MPDC can access the capacity and expertise of TNPA at a lower cost than that of European or Eastern ports.  For example the TNPA dredging services are ready to provide maintenance and capital dredging of the Port of Maputo.  The Maritime School of Excellence, a leader in marine training on the continent, is available for technical and maritime training as is our port planning and engineering expertise and Safety, Health and Quality (SHEQ) expertise.”

It also means that TNPA can access the expertise of the MPDC which it can apply to its ports. An example is that of ore dust control at the Port of Maputo which TNPA is looking to implement at the Port of Saldanha.