Image: Sarens n.v./s.a.
Sarens continues to increase its logistics capabilities in Southern Africa by opening a new logistics centre near Walvis Bay, Namibia, which will boost its ability to manage heavy transport, project cargo, and logistics services in Southern Africa.
The over 4-ha site will be utilized as a strategic location for Sarens’ business activities in Namibia and neighboring markets such as Angola, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The new hub is situated on the Walvis Bay logistics corridor, ready to equip and handle equipment for large-scale activities in the oil and gas, mining and offshore renewable energy industries.
The facility will offer a variety of logistics services, such as abnormal transport, shunting, material handling, warehousing and cargo staging services, all of which will be provided by Sarens. Initial deployments will be of specialized modular transport equipment, extendable trailers and heavy-duty lowbed combinations, and further investments in the fleet will be made as demand grows.
The development is coming at a time when Walvis Bay is consolidating its role as a major logistics hub for Namibia and the whole Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Rapid expansion of the port’s traffic share in regional trade, along with investments in the port infrastructure and industrial zones, is driving up demand for logistics facilities that will support the movement of complex project cargo.
Sarens’ facility will be a permanent logistics base that will enable the company to keep equipment closer to major projects to better meet the requirements of customers.
The facility will also serve as an alternative for cargo storage and preparation, away from the port area. This may assist customers to control congestion and also allow equipment and materials that may be sensitive to exposure to salt, sand and other marine conditions to be controlled.
The investment is intended to show Sarens’ long-term commitment to the markets in which it works, said their Country Manager for Namibia, Sharde Fisher. “Sarens is known for leaving a legacy wherever we go, investing in infrastructure, jobs,” Fisher said.
The Fisher- Sarens partnership will provide local expertise and experience with international projects, helping customers at every phase of their projects, from planning through to execution and delivery.
The new hub further reinforces Sarens’ commitment to the renewable energy supply chain in Namibia. The company has earlier assisted in the construction of the InnoVent Diaz I Wind Farm, and is currently installing seven wind turbines at the InnoVent Diaz II Wind Farm in Lüderitz.
The new investment follows the increasing demand for specialized logistics services in sectors such as mining, energy and infrastructure in Southern Africa. The transportation of oversized machinery, heavy components and project cargo over long distances and through various borders is often necessary for these projects.
By setting up infrastructure at Walvis Bay, Sarens will be better equipped to coordinate such.
