Event Photos of the 4th Annual #Africa #Port & #Rail & #Cargo Capacity Upgrading Summit in #Accra #Ghana are on FB. https://t.co/lEqEw5aLTX pic.twitter.com/16EDVzkwbe

— Noppen Group_Lnoppen (@Lnoppen) September 20, 2016

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Opportunities in Africa`s logistics infrastructure sector have never been so promising. The continent has seen steep continuous increase in containerized volumes, and will in the coming years -in opposite to other geographic regions-, keep experiencing growing cargo throughput rates.
Logistics operators, investors and shipping lines are widely opting for port, rail and intermodal projects across the entire continent.

Challenges in the sector however are multiple, ranging from the complete lack of hinterland connections to low operational efficiency and slow turnaround times in the harbours. Recent investments in Africa are rapidly transforming the sector in order to create ambitious deepwater sea ports, competitive transshipment hubs, faster rail freight speeds and cheaper logistics costs.

Noppen`s 4th Annual Africa Port & Rail Expansion Summit in Accra, Ghana, focuses on how cargo throughput is being enhanced and how capacity of the current logistics infrastructure is to be upgraded. The events is bringing together Terminal operators, Port Authorities, Railway Authorities, logistics consortiums, EPCs, ministries of economy and transport, consultants, banks and solutions providers.

Some of the Topics to be discussed in the program

• Cargo and Shipping Trends Outlook Africa 2017
• Greenfield Projects to Create Better Hinterland Connectivity, Impact of Logistics Corridors
• Case Study Successful PPP in West-Africa
• Case Study New Intermodal Project and its Business Case
• Enhancing Port and Railway Management Efficiency
• Aiming at Profitable Revenue Management for Africa`s Ports and Railways
• Technologies to Speed up Customs Clearance and Security Practices
• Systems for Track Rehabilitation to Assure Heavier Freight can travel at Higher Speeds
• Technologies and Services for Efficient Port Expansion and Quay Extensions
• Equipment and Automation Solutions for Better Turnaround Results

You will experience

Recent Industry News

August 2016 – The Federal Government has approved the construction of the proposed mega-seaport in Badagry, Lagos State.

Minister for Information, Lai Mohammed, who disclosed this yesterday at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held in Abuja, said the project would be built by the private sector. The briefing was also attended by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola and Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi. Mohammed said the approval for the greenfield port development in Badagry is the first step to approving the establishment of a new seaport in the country. The approval, he said, showed that Nigeria is still a very preferred investment destination in Africa despite the challenges it is facing. More at: http://shipsandports.com.ng/at-last-buhari-okays-apm-terminals-n793bn-badagry-mega-port-project/

August 2016 – Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) received the best enterprise award for being a leader of the maritime transport industry in Africa

The Europe Business Assembly (EBA), an international corporation for the evolution and implementation of economic and social development has awarded the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) the best enterprise award for being a leader of the maritime transport industry in Africa.

At an impressive ceremony in London, the Director General of GPHA, Richard Anamoo was also honoured as the Manager of the Year, 2015 and as the honourable member of the International Club of Leaders with personal certificate from Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce.

More at: http://ghanaports.gov.gh/news/1121/Gpha-Wins-Best-Enterprise-Award-For-Being-A-Leader-Of-The-Maritime-Transport-Industry-In-Africa

July 2016 – World Bank Injects Cash into Nigerian Terminal

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), which is the private sector arm of the World Bank has said it has granted a $73.5 million loan in a bid to assist with the development of a fertiliser export terminal at Port Harcourt in Niger Delta, Nigeria, according to The Daily Mail.

Eme Essien Lore, Country Manager for IFC in Nigeria, said: “IFC is committed to supporting investments in key infrastructure that will help facilitate the growth of Nigeria’s non-oil sector.” The new terminal is to cost $150 million in total and is a joint venture between Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited and Oil and Industrial Services Limited. It was also reported that the Rand Merchant Bank is providing a $31.5 million loan in order to fund the terminal’s development.

More at: https://www.porttechnology.org/news/world_bank_injects_cash_into_nigerian_terminal

July 2016 – Port concession has paid off, says Ex-NPA Managing Director, Omar Suleiman

While speaking against the background of the 10th anniversary of port concession, the former NPA helmsman said the port system was characterised by huge inefficiency, prompting government to invite private firms to bid for cargo handling operations.

“We entered port concession then because as you know, NPA had a cargo dwell time of three to four months.

“Ship waiting time, you cannot have less than six days. Turnaround time was something else because by the time the ship arrived, it was a problem problem of stalking where it could offload,” Suleiman told NPA’s in-house journal, Nigerian Ports Today, in an interview.

More at: http://shipsandports.com.ng/port-concession-has-paid-off-says-ex-npa-managing-director-omar-suleiman

June 2016 – Major Boost for Port of Maputo Dredging Project

The dredging operations on the access channel to the Port of Maputo have received a major boost with the arrival of the Van Oord’s trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) HAM 310. The Jan De Nul’s TSHD De Lapérouse, which started the channel dredging work on May 21, is currently working 24/7 in this area to ensure a fast and efficient work. Several dredgers and supporting equipment have also been mobilized for this dredging scheme.

More at: http://www.dredgingtoday.com/2016/06/30/major-boost-for-port-of-maputo-dredging-project/#.V3UaY8nc2gg.linkedin

May 2016: Alstom chosen for Dakar TER rolling stock contract

SENEGALESE investment agency Apix has selected Alstom as preferred supplier for a contract to provide rolling stock for the Dakar Express Regional Rail (TER) project.

Read More at: http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/africa/alstom-selected-for-dakar-ter-rolling-stock-contract.html?channel=538

April 2016 – Africa’s $30 Billion Rail Renaissance Holds Ticket for Trade

U.S. and European companies such as General Electric Co., Alstom SA and LafargeHolcim Ltd. are poised to benefit, along with Chinese builders and African suppliers such as Transnet SOC Ltd. GE is investigating opportunities in countries including Kenya, Ethiopia and Nigeria and will have almost tripled its number of service personnel on the continent from 2015 to the end of this year.

More at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-08/africa-s-30-billion-rail-renaissance-holds-ticket-for-trade

March 2016 – APMT in Automated Terminal Transshipment First

APM Terminals (APMT) has announced that it will develop and operate the first automated transhipment terminal at the Tanger-Med 2 port complex in Tangier, Morocco, which will have an annual capacity of five million TEU and become operational in 2019.

More at: https://www.porttechnology.org/news/apmt_in_automated_terminal_transhipment_first

March 2016 – Planning ahead (Nigeria)

Nigeria is gearing up for major expansion of its port capacity to cater for future growth, explains Richard Rowe.

Lagos, Nigeria’s principal port and capital city, has celebrated rapid increases in container traffic in recent years. In 2010, it handled 685,937 teu rising to a record 1.1m teu in 2014 and market studies indicate that the demand for container transport through the port will continue to grow by nearly 13% each year going forward.

More at: http://www.portstrategy.com/news101/world/africa/planning-ahead#sthash.bZpUwjSN.dpuf

March 2016 – New railway to boost Mombasa port container capacity, says CS

Container handling will increase from one million to two million a year at the port of Mombasa once the standard gauge railway begins operations in June next year, says Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia.

Mr Macharia said Kenya’s gross domestic product (GDP) would also grow by 1.5 per cent annually, courtesy of the new line.

More at: http://www.nation.co.ke/business/New-railway-to-boost-Mombasa-port-container-capacity/-/996/3136160/-/vb57ug/-/index.html

March 2016 – CMA CGM Upgrades Ethiopian Services

CMA CGM has announced an Ethiopian services upgrade due to new strategic calls added to its Mediterranean Express (MEX) and Red Sea Express (REX) services, as well as the development of its intermodal offering between Djibouti and Ethiopia.

PTI previously reported on CMA CGM’s new development strategy, which involves a new fleet and improved transit times to the West African coast from the regions of Europe, Asia, the Middle East and India.

More at: https://www.porttechnology.org/news/cma_cgm_upgrades_ethiopian_services