Luderitz Port expansion plans - an innovative approach

Luderitz Port is the second major port of Namibia. The main berth of the port is a 500m long concrete quay with alongside depth of 8.15m to 4.70m at LAT. The present throughput of the port is about 350,000 tonnes per annum. The main commodities being handled at the port are diesel oil, sulphur, zinc ingot, frozen and wet fish, ice and containers. The port is surrounded by dense population and has very limited area for landside expansion. At present the port doesn't have rail connectivity. A light railway link with a capacity of 1 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) is under construction which is expected to be completed by 2014. The trade analysis revealed that throughput of the port could be increased substantially, if required equipment, storage and a heavy haul rail linkage is provided. The port has a potential of being developed as a major resource export centre. The throughput of the port could increase to 775,000 tonnes per annum if the port could provide additional equipment, cold storage and container, reefer and break bulk cargo handling facilities. After the light railway is commissioned, the port could get up to 1 Mtpa (limited by railway capacity) of manganese for export. However if a heavy haul railway linkage could be established the port could achieve solid bulk export of up to 50 Mtpa. Considering the trade forecast and limitation of the finances, a three phase expansion plan has been developed for the port. The Phase I and Phase II port development plans are seamless plans, aimed at increasing the utilisation of existing assets at Robert Harbour. In Phase II transhipment facilities for export of manganese in bulk has been introduced as a low cost solution to increase the throughput of the port. In Phase III, major solid bulk material handling facilities are proposed to be built at Angra Point (a new site).