Espresso week 26-2024
Level Crossing Incident in Zimbabwe
The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) reports that one person died on the spot and several others sustained injuries of varying severity after a bus was hit by a train at the Paisley level crossing in Workington, Harare, in the early hours of 25 June. Preliminary inquiries indicate that the bus driver failed to stop at the level crossing, resulting in the accident. The NRZ family expresses its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured. NRZ also encourages drivers to strictly observe level crossing rules to avoid such tragic incidents.
Government’s Block Exemption for the Logistics Sector: Call for Comments
The Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition, in consultation with the Competition Commission, has published draft regulations for public comment. These regulations propose exempting certain agreements or practices among firms in the ports and rail industry from the application of sections 4 and 5 of the Competition Act, 1998 (Act No. 89 of 1998) as amended, in response to the current challenges facing ports and rail in South Africa.
The exemption aims to promote collaboration to reduce costs, improve services, and minimise losses caused by operational inefficiencies and infrastructure capacity shortages. It also seeks to contribute to measures aimed at resolving the challenges in the South African rail and port industry.
Stakeholders and interested persons are invited to submit written comments on the proposed regulations within 15 days of the publication of this notice, which was published on the 19th of June. Comments should be sent to the Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition, for the attention of Dr Ivan Galodikwe, at IGalodikwe@thedtic.gov.za.
You can access the document here: (attached in email)
Nacala Logistics Reopens Monapo Train Station
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Nacala Logistics reopened the Monapo railway station in Nampula last Friday, June 21st, after more than three decades of inactivity. This reopening will facilitate the mobility and safety of train passengers, in addition to the boarding and disembarking of various loads.
This infrastructure was completely rehabilitated by our company to create better conditions for all users traveling on our trains in the north of the country, especially on the Nampula-Nacala section, reintroduced at the end of last year.
The reopening of the Monapo railway station reflects the company’s commitment to the well-being of the communities where it operates. As part of this commitment, it offers passenger trains at low prices and engages in various social activities to support the socio-economic development of these communities.
On the occasion, Jaime Neto, the Secretary of State in the province of Nampula, praised the investment made in the rehabilitation of the station and highlighted the importance of rail transport in the region. He urged the population to use the infrastructure correctly to ensure its durability.
“The operation of this station will provide convenience to passengers in Monapo, Mossuril, and Ilha de Moçambique. We urge everyone to follow safety recommendations and prevent railway accidents,” said Neto.
Image credit: Nacala Logistics
Zambia Chipata -Mchinji Railway Line
The Board of Directors of Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL), led by Board Chairperson Mr. Emmanuel Hachipuka, recently conducted a familiarisation tour of the Chipata-Mchinji railway line. During a courtesy call on the Provincial Administration, Mr. Hachipuka expressed the Board and Government’s eagerness to see train operations resume on the Nacala Corridor once the existing challenges are resolved.
Eastern Province Health Director, Dr. Matthews Ng’ambi, representing the Provincial Permanent Secretary Mr. Paul Thole, highlighted the crucial role of the rail sub-sector in transporting heavy and bulk cargo. He emphasized that this helps decongest roads and reduce road carnage.
Other delegates present included ZRL Board Director Mr. Kafula Mwiche, Director Ms. Eileen Imbwae, ZRL Acting Managing Director Mr. Godfrey Fumbeshi, and other senior officials.
Zambia Railways Limited resumed train operations on the Nacala Corridor on May 9, 2014, but operations were suspended in 2016 due to washaways in Malawi, leading to the closure of the Blantyre-Mchinji railway section. The Nacala Corridor is a vital import and export trade route for Zambia and the sub-region, stretching 1,150 km from Chipata to the Port of Nacala through Mchinji, a border town in Malawi. The Zambian portion of the railway is 24 km from Chipata to Mchinji.
Egypt: A New Achievement For The National Industry Was Achieved At The SEMAF Factory
The Arab Organisation for Industrialisation (AOI), reports that a significant achievement in the national railway industry was celebrated at the SEMAF factory with the manufacture of 10 air-conditioned subway trains, totalling 80 metro cars. This project was a collaboration between the Arab Manufacturing Authority and Korean Hyundai Rotem Company.
Major General Engineer Mukhtar Abdel Latif, Chairman of the Arab Manufacturing Authority, emphasised the importance of this collaboration for meeting the Ministry of Transport’s needs. The project, part of Egypt’s Sustainable Development Vision 2030, utilised advanced industrial capabilities and the latest technology standards of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to enhance local manufacturing.
The SEMAF factory has successfully increased the ratio of domestic manufacturing and localised advanced technologies for subway cars. The factory’s advanced capabilities and joint efforts with Hyundai Rotem have supported the manufacturing of metro cars for Cairo’s subway lines, improving operational efficiency and safety.
The project is seen as a key component in supporting Egypt’s railway and metro systems, reducing imports, and positively impacting the Egyptian economy. The SEMAF factory continues to look forward to further strategic partnerships and cooperation with Hyundai Rotem to enhance the transportation industry in Egypt.
World Bank Delegation Visits Port of Djibouti
On Tuesday, June 18, a high-level government delegation from Djibouti, including the Ministers of Economy, Finance and Industry, Infrastructure and Equipment, Trade and Tourism, and Budget, along with the President of the Djibouti Port and Free Zones Authority, met with a World Bank delegation led by Nicolas Peltier-Thiberge, Global Director of Transport. The meeting focused on strengthening the partnership between Djibouti and the World Bank, with a key discussion point being the Port of Djibouti’s ranking in the Container Port Performance Index (CPPI).
Concerns were raised about the port’s decline in the CPPI ranking, attributed largely to external factors such as the security situation in the Red Sea and enhanced cargo verification procedures for shipments to Yemen implemented from September 2023. The World Bank delegation visited the port’s container handling facilities to gain a better understanding of its operations.
Despite disruptions in 2023, the Port of Djibouti experienced a significant increase in container traffic in the latter half of the year, solidifying its strategic importance in regional economic development. The World Bank reiterated its commitment to supporting the port, highlighting its critical role in global trade and connectivity within Africa. The partnership aims to enhance infrastructure, promote economic corridors, and support Djibouti’s priorities for inclusive growth, employment, and human capital development. The World Bank delegation will continue technical discussions with Djiboutian authorities to further cooperation and support the sustainable development of Djibouti.
ArcelorMittal Liberia Announces New CEO
ArcelorMittal Liberia announces the appointment of Michiel Van Der Merwe as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for ArcelorMittal Liberia, who will begin his tenure on 1 July 2024. Michiel will report to Kleber Silva, Executive Vice President of ArcelorMittal and Chief Executive Officer of ArcelorMittal Mining, as outgoing CEO Jozephus (Joep) Coenen announces his retirement.
TNPA Issues Request for Information for Operator of Port of Mossel Bay’s Offshore Marine Loading Facilities
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has issued a Request for Information (RFI), inviting interested terminal operators to submit proposals for the refurbishment, financing, operation, maintenance, and hand-back of the Single Point Mooring (SPM) and Conventional Buoy Mooring (CBM) Marine Loading Facilities at the Port of Mossel Bay.
Located offshore at the Port of Mossel Bay, these marine loading facilities are crucial for loading and discharging petroleum products to meet liquid bulk customer demands and ensure security of supply, particularly for the Garden Route and Southern Cape region.
