At the Land Linked Zambia Event held on April 4-5, 2024, in Zambia, we caught up with Mudiwa Mupfanochiya from Cornelder de Moçambique, S.A., for a “Coffee With the Editor” interview. Mudiwa provided an insightful overview of the operations and strategic role of the Port of Beira, managed by the private consortium formed through a partnership between the Mozambican public company Porto e Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique (CFM) and the Cornelder Group, CdM, since 1998.
The Port of Beira is strategically linked by two major railway lines, enhancing its connectivity across the region. The rehabilitated Machipanda Line stretches approximately 300 kilometres to the Machipanda border with Zimbabwe, and the Sena Line extends towards Malawi; however, 50 kilometres on the Malawian side are currently being worked on.
In terms of cargo handling, the past year marked a record for Beira’s terminals. The container terminal processed over 320,000 TEUs, a significant increase from the previous year’s 280,000 TEUs. The general cargo terminal was not far behind, handling more than 3.5 million tonnes of cargo. These figures represent significant growth, indicating robust performance and a promising future for the port’s operations.
In response to increasing demand, the Port of Beira is actively expanding the storage capacities at both terminals. The expansions are designed to accommodate a variety of new commodities, including lithium. Additionally, the port has initiated upgrades to its infrastructure, including plans to install two new gantries following a tender process set for later this year. These enhancements are crucial as the port prepares to handle larger and wider vessels.
The port currently supports a 12-metre draft for container ships and a 10-metre draft for general cargo ships, accommodating larger international shipping vessels. This capability has transitioned Beira from a feeder port to a direct-call port now serving major shipping lines.
Mudiwa notes that the Kafue – Lion’s Den railway project, which the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe have been discussing, will be a major game-changer. Currently, rail connectivity for Zambia and the DRC involves a circuitous route from Livingstone down to Bulawayo, up again to Harare, then across to Mutare, Machipanda and finally to Beira. However, once the Kafue – Lion’s Den link is established, it would provide the same logistical advantages as road freight, offering the shortest rail route from Zambia to the port of Beira, which would greatly enhance efficiency and reduce transportation costs.
