New planned dry port to assist with bulk exports and lower the cost of storage
The establishment of a special economic zone and development of a logistics precinct in Komatipoort is expected in the near future. The concept of a dry port is used by many landlocked and semi-landlocked countries to facilitate their exports through neighbouring harbours, to benefit from shorter export routes.
MALALANE – The establishment of a special economic zone and development of a logistics precinct in Komatipoort is expected in the near future. The concept of a dry port is used by many landlocked and semi-landlocked countries to facilitate their exports through neighbouring harbours, to benefit from shorter export routes.
A typical dry port will be situated inside but close to the border of the landlocked country en route to the harbour.
This means direct bulk exports from the dry port to the harbour. This saves on berthing and storage costs at the harbour, which come at a premium.
According to a statement released by the chamber of congress Lebombo Border Dry Port (LBDP) is a lease agreement with the national department of public works and South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) terminating in June 2032, with the option of a further 30 years, notarial executed and registered against the title on 179,69ha of portions of the farm townlands 169 JU. In terms of the lease, “the properties are to be utilised for the purposes of border control and ancillary commercial and/or social and/or agricultural purposes that will contribute to the infrastructure development and the efficiency of the border between the RSA and Mozambique”.
On September 14, 2011 the Mpumalanga development tribunal approved a land-development area in terms of the Development Facilitation Act (DFA) on portions three, 10 and 17 of the farm Komatipoort townland no 182 JU.
The general plan of the township has been surveyed and is in the process of approval by the Surveyor General. LBDP has signed a service agreement with Nkomazi Local Municipality.
The conditions of establishment will be lodged with the register whereafter the Section 38 DFA service certificate from the tribunal can be obtained for the opening of the township register.
All existing and planned developments on the land are done in terms of a consent use from Nkomazi Local Municipality, which supports the continuation of activities pending the opening of the township register.
The logistics precinct development on the land is also supported by the provincial government and forms part of its flagship programme for the Maputo Corridor development. It is stated that the development has a land-reservation agreement with Continuum Principal Investments (Pty) Ltd (a rail and logistics group on behalf of a number of clients) for 90ha for purposes of the containerisation of chrome, magnetite and other minerals on the land which will then be moved by rail directly to the Maputo harbour. It is said that they have customers who want to move at least 50 containers per day immediately from the dry port to the harbour. The implementation date is dependent on the finalisation of an agreement to move the containers by rail by Mozambican Railways (CFM).
