DAMAGE TO PORT OF BEIRA AND CORRIDOR IN MOZAMBIQUE REPAIRED

Construction of US $211m port of Beira and
transport corridor in Mozambique is complete and fully operating. Business
development officer of Cornelder de Mozambique, Mudiwa Mufanochiya announced
the reports.

“Beira port is back on track. It was of course
affected by the storm since it devastated the whole the central region of
Mozambique. Fortunately, the port sustained only limited damages as
preparations were made in advance to protect all equipment, machinery and
cargo.

The Beira corridor is one of Southern Africa’s main
transport routes that links Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, DRC and Mozambique to the
port of Beira on the Indian Ocean. Mufanochiya also added that the corridor is
now functioning although things are yet to reach the best standard.

The port was affected during the Cyclone Idai that
hit Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe on March 14, which claimed over 1 000 lives
in all the three countries and left a trail of destruction. The damage caused a
two weeks’ blockade movement.

Damage to the cargo terminal included; roof damage
to the warehouses, and fenders on the quays were swept away. However no full
containers were damaged as they were stacked low or in pyramid shape. The
gantry cranes withstood the storm, thanks to extensive tie down efforts before
the storm.

“The road to Beira was not accessible due to the
flooding. Around 100 km away from Beira, bridges and roads were also damaged.
However, due to extensive emergency road works they were reopened, and Beira is
now again connected to the hinterland countries by both road and rail,” said
Mudiwa Mufanochiya.

Pfungwa Kunaka, Director of Budgets in the Zimbabwean Ministry of Finance, said the temporary shutdown of the Beira corridor significantly affected trade flow within the southern parts of Africa, and the move to urgently fix the port was necessary and useful.https://constructionreviewonline.com/2019/04/damages-on-port-of-beira-and-corridor-in-mozambique-repaired/