The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) has appointed Maritime Business and Transport Solutions (MTBS) as transactional advisors in the envisaged concessioning of the New Container Terminal (NCT) at the Port of Walvis Bay.
This was after the ports operator had taken over the concessioning process from the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) to directly oversee the second stage of the procurement for an operator for the NCT and sourcing of an investor to develop the National Single Window (NSW).
Namport issued a Request for Proposal on the 8th of April 2022 and closed on the 5th of May 2022.
“I further reiterate that the disposal of the terminal is absolutely not part of the considerations of this process and ownership will remain vested in Namport until the end of the concession period where after the container handling operations will revert back to Namport,” Namport CEO , Andrew Kanime said.
He said the decision by the company to concession the NCT for 25 years was being driven by depressed macro-economic conditions, which have negatively impacted industries across all sectors, a position that has resulted in decreased imports and exports handled through Namibia, and other ports across the region.
“The cumulative effect of these unforeseen and unfortunate developments has been a significant decrease in the volumes throughput through the new container terminal. Hence, given the need to earn a return on this very strategic investment we have been compelled to explore means and ways we can drive the utilization of the terminal and amongst the outcomes from our considerations has been the decision to consider concessioning the new terminal to an independent operator,” Kanime said adding that there will be no exclusive handling of containers in the port by the concessionaire/operator.
“May I therefore please take this opportunity to reassure you that the proposed concessioning of the Walvis Bay New Container Terminal is a culmination of detailed studies and considerations which are all aimed at enhancing the value accruing to Namport and the Namibian nation, from this strategic and flagship investment. We are certain that the concession, if successfully taken up and effectively implemented, will deliver a great return on investment in the medium to long term for the benefit of all of us as employees of Namport.”
Kanime said there would not be job losses as the new “operator will be required to maintain or better the current terms and conditions of employment who are directly or substantially deployed to container handling operations. They will be further required to provide an undertaking to guarantee employment of the personnel taken over for a minimum period and the finer details are still the subject of deliberations between Namport and our recognized Employees’ bargaining partner.”
Inaugurated in 2019, the NCT was built at a total cost of N$4.2 billion and the investment comprised of a new quay wall providing for two additional berths, a container stacking and interchange yard, additional turning basin, four post Panamax ship to shore cranes, upgrade of utilities and ancillary equipment and systems.
“The decision to embark on this watershed project followed various studies which pointed at the capacity of the old container terminal, which then stood at an annual throughput of 350,000 TEU’s, nearing full utilization. In fact, so realistic were these forecasts that in 2012, the old container terminal handled a total of 330,000 TEU’s, representing 94% utilization.”
