Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC), Mozambican Ports & Rail Company (CFM), Transnet Freight & Rail (TFR) from South Africa and Swaziland Railway signed today a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to improve the coordination and planning of rolling stock between the rail lines in order to increase the efficiency of cargo rail transport.
In this MOU – which also covers the incorporation of a Joint Operation Center – JOC between the Parties – the stakeholders commit to do the necessary investment and contribution in such a way to accompany the increase in cargo traffic in the Maputo Corridor. The JOC will allow integrating and efficiently managing the diverse cargo flows and optimize the performance of the port and rail system along the corridor.
The memorandum follows the strategic plan for the Port of Maputo which foresees an increase in cargo handling to 40 million tons by 2016. The need to move cargo from road to rail to obtain the necessary increase in productivity and decrease in the congestion of the Port Maputo’s access, were subjects which were in the agenda of all parties since the beginning of the year. CFM, one of MPDC’s shareholders, had already announced in a port users forum in February that it was carrying out an ambitious investment program to increase their locomotives and wagons pool to answer the growing traffic demand.
The MOU that was now signed will improve the operational efficiency of all the parties’ rail lines and support the realization of the Port Maputo’s strategic plan.
