The Port of Walvis Bay has taken delivery of a historic and largest Petroleum Coke (Petcoke) consignment ever recorded in the country destined for Zambia.
The shipment of 42,000 tonnes of Petcoke was received from the United States of America, Houston Port, by the Namibian Ports Authority through the Global Brave vessel.
It will be used in a limestone factory in the Republic of Zambia and was unloaded over a three-day period.
Namport’s Executive for Commercial Services Elias Mwenyo said the cargo would be transported to Zambia using trucks, with the next consignment expected to be offloaded at the Port of Walvis Bay in April 2023.
“This significant milestone speaks directly to the relentless work of marketing the Ports Authority’s capabilities and infrastructure to handle such volumes. In February 2019, the Port of Walvis Bay recorded its first consignment of Petcoke as a trial run and has since proven to be a suitable and capable nodule in handling this commodity,” he said.
Mwenyo added that Petroleum Coke is a material relatively low in cost and high in heat value and carbon content with good chemical stability, making it an efficient and cost-effective fuel for producing metal, brick and related products.
The Namport Executive noted that the Walvis Bay Bulk Terminal is handling the cargo on behalf of the Walvis Bay Cargo Terminal.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema recently indicated that his country’s dry port at Walvis Bay has boosted trade and diversified Zambia’s market routes.
Namibia offered Zambia the dry port in 2008 for the benefit of the neighbouring country’s importers and exporters.
“Prior to this, Zambians used to move through South Africa and Dar es Salaam, but they were disrupted by the Portuguese and had to shift once more. As a result, the port is critical to the Zambian economy and enterprises. Let us use the port together, Namibian and Zambian enterprises and governments optimising its use so that it can improve the lives of both countries,” Hichilema had said at the official opening of the Swakopmund International Trade Expo (SWAiTEX) in October.
Namibia has an ambitious initiative to exploit the country’s latent advantage, its strategic location, to transform itself into the preferred logistics and distribution centre for landlocked SADC countries.
