Local transport organisation Portnet is considering=20 managing the Congo’s major port. Karen Harverson=20
Portnet may enter into a joint venture with the People’s=20 Republic of the Congo to manage and operate the=20 country’s major port, Pointe Noire.
Portnet chief executive Neil Oosthuizen says in-depth=20 discussions have been held with the Congolese ambassador=20 and minister of transport who have expressed serious=20 interest in the South African port authority taking=20 joint control and management of the port.
“In the next two weeks, a Portnet delegation will fly to=20 the Congo to do an on-site assessment of the port’s=20 infrastructure and, thereafter, assess the feasibility=20 of the venture,” Oosthuizen says.
The main requirements of a port are that the harbour has=20 adequate depth and safe waters,and basic infrastructure=20 such as breakwaters and quay wall structures.
Although uncertain of the exact size and port=20 infrastructure at Pointe Noire, Oosthuizen believes it=20 is a general, all-purpose port similar to Port=20 Elizabeth, handling general cargo, containers and a=20 small amount of bulk commodities using normal crane=20 operation but without sophisticated belt-operation=20
“I believe some terminals are operating but the=20 Congolese government is keen to improve the situation=20 and has shown preference for South Africa to assist,=20 despite interest shown by other foreign countries,” says=20
Financing details would be discussed within two weeks=20 and would depend on the structure of the joint venture.=20
“Other options might include contracting the terminal=20 facilities out to private operators.”
Oosthuizen says a major factor influencing Portnet to=20 consider the venture has been the recent relocation of=20 South African farmers to the Congo to build up the=20 agriculture industry.
“There is great potential for the production of a large=20 amount of agricultural produce for export as well as=20 increased trade between South Africa and the Congo.”
At Transnet’s annual financial results held this week,=20 managing director Dr Anton Moolman said for the first=20 time since its inception five years ago,=20
Transnet had made a sufficient profit to make provision=20 for the R1,9-billion contribution to its pension fund=20 and still reflect a net profit of R118-million.
The public company inherited a deficit of R17,2-billion=20 in the pension fund when it was first commercialised and=20 has managed to get it down to R4,2-billion this year.
Improved turnover was reported by transport businesses=20 Spoornet, Petronet, Autonet, South African Airways (SAA)=20 and Portnet, while goods distributor PX recorded a net=20 loss of R297-million.
PX has now decided to modernise and unbundle into=20 focused businesses to improve its operations.
“We’ll be moving away from rail transportation into=20 road,” said chief executive Wicus Pretorius.=20
He added that plans were afoot to modernise depots.
“We plan to restructure the business and concentrate on=20 commercial and industrial parcels, courier services and=20 express services.”
Portnet’s net profit rose 45 percent on last year’s=20 profit to R1,1-billion.
A record high of 154,9-million tons of cargo was handled=20 by the port authority despite the labour unrest which=20 had lead to congestion in March and April this year.
Bulk cargo, which accounts for the major portion of its=20 business, rose almost seven percent to a new record of=20 96,7-million tons, which equals 74 percent of the total=20
New records were set in the export of iron ore through=20 Saldanha Bay of 20,9-million tons and wood chips through=20 Richards Bay of 5,3-million tons.=20
Coal exports through the Port of Richards Bay amounted=20 to 53,7-million tons.
Container traffic showed the greatest increase with the=20 number of containers handled increasing by 20 percent to=20 a record 1,20-million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
“The container business is very profitable, so the=20 increased traffic in containers has contributed greatly=20 to our overall performance,” said Oosthuizen.