Sierra Leone’s First Lady Mrs. Fatima Bio on Thursday, June 9, 2022, launched the Nectar Sierra Leone Bulk Terminal (NSBT) berth expansion project.
The project, which is expected to last for 12 months, will construct a new deep-water jetty with a new berth and refurbish existing berth to enable a larger class of vessel size (up to Panamax size) to call at Freetown.
The new berth will provide 190 m berthing space (Max LOA for vessel 225m) and 13 m draft.
The launching was witnessed by the British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone HE Lisa Cheney.
The NSBT Board Chair, Rt. Col. Lansana Turay said, “We are here today to witness NSBT’s 3rd berth expansion project which reflects the translation of the vision and belief in the future development of Sierra Leone as a west African powerhouse for port operations which serves as a major logistics hub for imports and exports.”
He since in inception, NSBT investments in the port has been significant, running well over Le 455 billion (US$5.5 million).
He said the port investment project has resulted in the terminal expansion which has allowed the introduction of additional cargo handling methods and equipment. He said that Nectar Group and NSBT continue to be the key driver of economic activities and offer tremendous support as a good community neighbour, with a track record of proven corporate social responsibility. He said among other things the Nectar Group has donated fire engine and equipment to the Sierra Leone Ports Authority (SLPA), constructed school blocks, renovate school; supported the First Lady’s campaign to protect women and girls. He said that these ventures have an estimated worth of Le1.6 billion.
Nectar Group Director, Mr Guy Wilkes said that Nectar Group Limited (NGL) is a global market leader of specialist bulk cargo handling services at ports and terminals across the world. He said that NGL was established in 1972 and is part of the Monaco Resource Group which included R-Logitech & EuroPorts. “The Group is involved with terminal management services and the discharge from vessels of bulk, dry and free flowing commodities such as grain, rice, and fertilizer as well as raw materials such as Coal, utilising the Group’s highly experienced and trained personnel,” he said.
The Group portfolio of services includes Bulk Terminal ownership and management, maintenance of bulk handling equipment, ship to shore gantry cranes and mobile harbour cranes under long term contracts with clients. The Group provides bulk discharge and bagging services in many ports around world and also has expanded into logistics and warehouse management.
Mr Guy Wilkes said that the involvement of NSBT in Sierra Leone
Could be traced be traced back to the late 1980’s, pioneered bulk/bagging operations in Freetown under the USAID Title II programme .
He said that since 2015, investment in Sierra Leone is focused on the Freetown Port.
He said that NSBT has been operating in the port from Sep 2015. Mr Wilkes said that the objectives of the port expansion project is increase the ease of shipment, competitiveness, viability and profitability of the port facilities and attract greater international traffic; provide modern facilities and expand the existing berths and quayside space; Increase import capacities and enable more cost-effective shipments by having deeper draft, more efficient unloading systems and a reduction in operational costs for importers and ship-owners alike; provide additional capacity to handle more volumes as the trade grows; provide additional cargo handling and storage area, among others.
He said that NSBT will continue to provide bulk and break bulk discharge and loading, weighbridge services, long or short-term storage facilities, quayside bagging facilities, Integrated digital Terminal Management System, and consolidated Cargo Management.
Representing the Vice President Dr Juldeh Jalloh, the First Lady Mrs Fatima Bio said that the port expansion project will transform the lives of people and enhance economic development. “This is a laudable venture that will instill confidence in investors. The president will support this project because your agenda in his agenda,” the first lady said.
The deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, Rex Bhonapha, said that the port expansion project will enable the Freetown port to accommodate larger vessels and make Freetown Port one of the best docks in West Africa.
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Privatization (NCP), Madam S. Rogers applauded the financiers and management of Nectar Group for supporting the project. she assured of NCP’s support towards the successful implementation of the project.
The Member of Parliament Representing Constituency 121, Hon. Miniru Lansana said NSBT has been supporting community projects in his constituency. He is certain that his constituency will benefit a lot from the company. He said that due to the construction of police station by NSBT, peace has returned to his constituency.
The General Manager of the Sierra Leone Ports Authority, Dr Abdulai Fofana appreciated NSBT for undertaking such a major project under his tenure. He said the project will strengthen not only the relationship between the SLPA and NSBT but also the relations between Sierra Leone and Great Britain.
Expected environmental improvements following berth expansion
• A 16,000mt vessel of bulk clinker / gypsum will take on average 400 truck movements during the discharge. Currently these trucks have to travel 1.5km round trip from the factory to the berth to load and return.
• The new berth will reduce this distance to 300m – thus reducing the overall distance travelled for the trucks by 80%.
• This also means that discharge speeds will be increased and the environmental impact of engines running / trucks moving through the terminal will be reduced by the same amount.
• It will also allow NSBT to segregate the terminal so that when handling foodstuffs like Rice / Grain on Berth 1 and 2, the more industrial type of cargoes can be kept at a distance and thus eradicate any risk of cross contamination.
• The new berth will provide 225 m berthing space and 13 m draft allowing for larger vessels and economies of scale thus reducing the carbon footprint on a per shipment basis.
• The new berth will allow NSBT to target a reduction in traffic (truck movements and number of trucks needed / noise and congestion for one of its major clients. Just in distance alone, it will produce a saving of 6,000kms of truck movements per annum for just 1 client in terms of distance travelled during the unloading.
By Alusine Sesay