Mozambique did not grant a concession in the Port of Nacala – Ministry

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Mozambique did not grant a concession in the Port of Nacala – Ministry

7:49 CAT | 30 Aug 2024

FILE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: Macauhub]

The Ministry of Transport and Communications denies that the Port of Nacala is being concessioned to Malawi.

The institution clarifies that the process only allows the neighbouring country to have a location 15 kilometres from the port to secure [in transit] cargo.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications says it is concerned about information according to which the country is granting the Port of Nacala to neighbouring Malawi.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Communications clarifies that this is not a concession.

“The Ministry of Transport and Communications is working with Malawi, yes, but not in the process of granting concessions for the port of Nacala, but in a process that will allow Malawi to have a site in Muchilipo, about 15 kilometres from the port of Nacala, to develop a dry port, with a view to securing its cargo, in order to ensure that more cargo from Malawi is prepared at that location and arrives at the port without costs which end up creating the challenge of logistics in general,” explained Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Cláudio Zunguza.

Furthermore, this can only happen after a feasibility study.

“There is a discussion that brings us to liquid cargo, taking into account that, installing a tubular system from the port of Nacala to the dry port over a distance of 15 kilometres could pose a challenge. It is under discussion. This study will have to show which cargoes Malawi intends to bring with the greatest demand. Those dry cargoes will be stored in the dry port and, as for liquid cargoes, we can work to see if it is possible to install a tank near the port, which could allow Malawi to guarantee the storage of its cargo so that, through its rail or road system, it can be transported to Malawi,” Zunguza explained.

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Cláudio Zunguza was speaking at an event focussing on the development of infrastructure and its role in boosting the national and regional economy.

“The Nacala, Beira and Maputo corridors are guaranteeing great development, looking at their infrastructure, which is the first pillar we are working on. We are not completely satisfied, because we need the turnaround time for ships to not be as long as it is today, and we want to ensure that our corridors continue to be more competitive and efficient to meet national and regional demand,” Permanent Secretary Zunguza said.

The discussion took place on Thursday in the Development Corridors pavilion at FACIM 2024, which runs until Sunday in Ricatla, Marracuene district, Maputo province.

Source: O País