A presentation by Andrew Robinson, head of transport, South Africa, Norton Rose Fulbright, South Africa. Delivered during African Ports Evolution 2015 in Durban, South Africa. More like this on www.transportworldafrica.co.za

2. Presented by
Andrew Robinson/Director & Head of Transport
Advising on corridor infrastructure finance

3. Transport corridors in Africa (All approved)

4. Ports and Prime Urban areas

5. Ports underpin Africa trade
• 95% trade “oceanic”
• 5% trade “inter Africa”
• Ports link to prime commercial areas
• Landlocked countries

6. Population growth
• Africa to contribute 30% to population growth of
2.5 billion by 2050
BUT
• Still – 85% of cargo movement by road!
• Road maintenance – 2014
o Sub-Saharan Africa: $7 billion p.a.
o China (less than ½ the size): $ 45 billion p.a.

7. Roads
Country Total Roads Paved Unpaved
DRC 153,497 km 2,794 km 150,703 km (2004)
Ethiopia 44,359 km 6,064 km 38,295 km (2007)
Kenya 160,878 km 11,189 km 149,689 km
South Africa 747,014 km 158,952 km 588,062 km (2014)
Tanzania 86,472 km 7,092 km 79,380 (2010)
Nigeria 193,200km 28,980km 164,220 (2004)
Paved v Unpaved
CIA World Fact Book

8. Growth in Africa
• 2015 – 4.5%
• 2016 - ± 5% (if lucky)
BUT
• Rail projects: $ 495 billion

9. Port survival
• Ports need rail to survive

10. Rail Projects
• Upgrade existing rail networks
• Pit to Port Developments
• Urban / Metro initiatives

11. The Role of the State
• State control of:
o “below” rail (fixed infrastructure)
o “above rail” (rolling stock)
• Public Private Partnerships
o it’s all about expectations

12. Rail gauges
Rail network lengths in selected key African economies (km)
Country Total Cape gauge
(1067mm)
Standard
gauge
(1435mm)
Other narrow
gauge
(1000mm)
Of which
electrified
South Africa 20 986 19 756 80 (electrified)
80 (standard)
8 271 (Cape)
Tanzania 4 567 1 860 2 707
DRC 4 007 3 882 125 858 (Cape)
Nigeria 3 798 3 505 293
Kenya 3 334 3 334
Ethiopia 681 681
Graphic 1 – Rail network lengths and gauges
**Information taken from the CIA World Fact Book – https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-
factbook/fields/2121.html (2014)

13. Interconnectivity
• Major routes
• Arterial routes
• Branch lines
• Beneficiation

14. Maintenance and skills
• Logistics skills
• Repair and maintenance skills
• Monitoring and maintenance schedules
• Skill migration
• Supply of diesel and electricity

15. Economic growth
• Multi-jurisdictional growth

16. Applicable law
• Local laws for local infrastructure
• Above rail – often foreign laws
• Bank requirements paramount
• One law per corridor?

17. Expect the unexpected
• Spread of risk – appropriate insurances
• Political and non-political force majeure
• Regulatory issues across Government departments
• Sovereign guarantee

18. Conclusion
• Like any developing investment
environment, Africa is not without its
challenges and obstacles.
• Required: a broad experience of different
solutions for transport infrastructure
projects, coupled with appropriate “in
country” knowledge.