Sub-Saharan Africa’s (SSA) mining sector could treble its output if the continent could invigorate its transport infrastructure said Peter Verheyke, Manager, Senior, Projects & Overborder, Air & Sea.

Verheyke has been solving logistics challenges in Africa for more than 30 years, and his view underlines the importance of supply chains and the logistics sector to the region’s economic progress. “I’m an optimist and I believe that if the industry keeps working with governments and all other stakeholders, the problems we currently face can be overcome”.

An efficient rail system will help reduce the pressure on existing bottlenecks by reducing the number of vehicles blocking these already stretched facilities and over-extended workforce.

The world needs copper and cobalt for cell phones, televisions and semiconductors for motor vehicles, and other minerals which Africa is rich in, but corruption, administrative functionality and poor infrastructure is hampering progress. “My guess is that if you could get the current 48-day round trip to 20-day round trip, you could effectively treble the output and input. The tonnage difference moved would be huge!”, said Verheyke.

Much of the built infrastructure has been poorly maintained or supplemented for some time, and so you have an output dilemma in that the existing infrastructure is not able to accommodate increased demand. “For example, once the copper is mined and sold ex-gate to traders, the problems move from the mining company to the traders who need to move vast amounts of cargo to all the possible exit points to get it to market. With all the current mines increasing capacity, the pressure will mount even further”.

Roads are mostly single-track, and this is not conducive to efficient logistics, and much of the rail network is either now redundant or in poor condition. In most parts of Africa there are vehicle shortages and the ports of entry are inadequate.

Port productivity is a major problem in Africa. Ports in the developed world manage upwards of a move a minute, while African ports are up to 10 times slower. This is not in a ship owner’s interest, because ships are so much less productive coming to South Africa and other African ports.

Verheyke said it was critical to fix the harbors, roads, and railways (and to make sure they are all the same gauge) and improve border administrations and processes, as there can be no progress if goods don’t move quicker. Importantly, the right interventions need to be made in the right places – Verheyke also points to the revitalized harbor in Lobito, Angola being something of a white elephant because it’s on the wrong side of the continent in terms of most buyers/users of copper and cobalt, who include China, India, and others in the APAC region.

Ports on the east side of the continent are struggling with congestion and reliability issues and the lack of space to expand port operations due to the position of the respective ports within the city limits. The only expansion possibilities are outside the actual port which would add another link to the already expensive supply chain. Beira port is battling with draught limitations that restrict the larger vessels from berthing.

DSV has worked throughout SSA for years, and past and present projects include:

• Democratic Republic of Congo – Phase III of a major Copper mine, smelter and housing project which has involved an estimated 4000 truckloads over 18 months
• Zambia – Copper projects, 80 truckloads monthly
• Zimbabwe – Commodity Projects
• Botswana – various smaller mines
• Mozambique and Angola – oil and gas projects
• Tanzania – supply by road to various mines
• Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya – supply by road to various mines
• South Africa – wind farms and solar energy parks.

And many others allow DSV to see the developments or lack there off, first hand.

The government has assured the business community that it will continue supporting developments of new technology that is aimed at increasing productivity and efficiency and creating jobs for the Zambian people.

Minister of Transport and Logistics, Frank Tayali has since assured Forland of the government’s support in ensuring that the economic environment of doing business is favorable for growth.

Mr. Tayali said this in a speech delivered on his behalf by Minister of Transport and Logistics Permanent Secretary Fredrick Mwalusaka during the launch of the Forland truck brand in Zambia held at CAMCO head office in Lusaka on Friday.

“I have noted with delight that Forland is covering almost the whole part of Zambia with branches located in Choma, Chipata, Kapiri mposhi, Kitwe, Ndola, and Solwezi, bringing their services to the doorsteps of our people,” he said.

The Minister said the milestone that Forland has achieved brings about many benefits to the transport and motor industry in Zambia.

“Forland brings about famous and reliable brands from China that would grant my Government’s aspirations for the quality motor industry in Zambia,” he added.

Speaking at the same event, CAMCO Group of Companies Marketing Director Bernard Chiwala said as Zambia transforms itself into a land-linked country, it is their noble ambition, through CAMCO Motors in partnership with Forland to provide motor vehicles on the Zambian market that will respond to the challenge of climate change the world is grappling with.

He explained that the motors that will be provided will be climate smart.

CAMCO Group Chairman Li Tie said the decision to choose the new brand was arrived at after detailed consideration of what the company can offer on market.

Meanwhile, Forland International East Africa Regional General Manager Harry Han said, “in the future, we hope we could have a chance to establish an automobile production plant in Zambia together with CAMCO to realize the localized production of automobiles in Zambia.

Supply of popular Hilux and Land Cruiser pick-ups and hard tops are now getting back to normal in Zambia following the devastating floods in South Africa earlier this year, as well as burdens of the global pandemic that halted production in both Japan and South Africa.

The first large-scale consignment of Hilux pick-ups arrived in the country last week, with more expected shortly, said Toyota distributor CFAO Motors Zambia.

There are currently 240 vehicles in stock, with a further 250 coming in November, both already purchased customers’ vehicles and vehicles for available to buy. The company now has stock of Hilux Double Cab, Hilux Single Cab, Land Cruiser 300, Land Cruiser 79 Double and Single Cab, as well as passenger cars including the Starlet, Belta and Rumion.

“There is much more to come. The supply issues are gone,” said CFAO Motors Zambia Chief Operating Officer Nenad Predrevac.

Toyota Motor Corporation and Toyota South Africa worked at full speed to get its Durban Plant back up and running after April’s floods, which badly affected Toyota’s global automotive supply. The 87-hectare plant produces vehicles such as the Hilux, Corolla Cross, Corolla Quest and Fortuner, with distribution sent to 74 countries around the world, Zambia being one of them.

“Our colleagues in South Africa worked round the clock to stabilize production, and we are now delighted to see production back on stream and supply coming into Zambia once again,” said Mr Predrevac.

“We thank our customers in Zambia for their patience and support during this difficult time and wish to reassure them that we are in constant communication with our production centre to ensure full availability,” added Mr. Predrevac.

To celebrate normalization of the supply chain, CFAO Motors Zambia is knocking off $5,000 for all new orders from the prices of Hilux Double Cab 2.4l, 4×4 MT Comfort Plus and Hilux 2.8l, 4×4 MT Executive from today until the end of the year.