RLL Container Report - 01 March 2017
From: John Keir, Ross Learmont Ltd. Email: john.keir@telia.com Date: 01 March 2017
The Heart of Africa.
Last year, Bolloré Logistics opened hubs in Lagos and Accra to add to its existing cargo-handling facilities in Abidjan, Johannesburg and Nairobi. The French group describes these hubs are being strategically located in regions with strong economic growth potential. In addition to economic growth, these countries are also witnessing a major surge in population growth. Indeed, the rapid rise in the middle classes on the continent is having a radical effect on the volume and quality of imports.
For decades, the continent has been used to growing exports of cargoes in the form of tea, coffee, cocoa, lumber, and minerals. To these exports are now being added imports in the form of industrial machinery and booming consumer goods. Africa is now Bolloré Logistics’ second largest market, representing almost 25% of the company’s turnover and 10,000 of its staff. All across the African continent, transport companies are following Bolloré’s example and are training their employees in the art of intermodal logistics.
To cope with the upsurge in containerised cargoes in East Africa, Kenya has now embarked on the construction of the second stage of its standard gauge railway, which has already reached the capital, Nairobi. On the 7th of January, the port of Mombasa received the first batch of six locomotives from China. China’s CRRC is to supply a total of 56 locomotives, 40 passenger coaches and 1,620 assorted wagons to be deployed on the route from Mombasa up towards Malaba on the border with Uganda.
Once the entire fleet is in operation, Kenya Railway Corporation (KRC) will operate 43 freight trains, 5 passenger trains, 8 shunters. According to KEC, the 42 locomotives that will be used to haul freight are capable of transporting up to 22 million tonnes of cargo collectively, which it is hoped will boost trade and investment along KRC’s new transport corridor. Once commercial operations are initiated, five passenger trains with a capacity of 1,096 commuters will significantly increase mobility and reduce travel times between Kenya’s largest economic zones.
With an area of 1.247 million square kilometres, Angola has to provide transport services to a population, which has doubled to over 21 million in less than three decades. To this end, Angola Railways (INCFA) have just taken delivery of the first of a large batch of locomotives ordered from General Electric Transportation. In total, GE is contracted to deliver to INCFA one hundred GE C30ACi locomotives as part of a project to enhance productivity. With a 12-cylinder 3,000 horsepower diesel engine, the locos are designed significantly to enhance productivity. The fleet of locomotives is currently being built in Erie, Pennsylvania, and will be delivered to Angola over the next three years.
John Keir, Ross Learmont Ltd.
01 March 2017
Copyright ©, 2017, John Keir