Companies exploring first green shipping corridor from Africa

Green corridors have become a hot concept in the past year, with several major shipping lanes put forward as candidates for first-mover decarbonisation. A first corridor from Africa to Europe is now being conceptualised.

PHOTO: Aerial view of the port of Cape Town, South Africa. Getty Images

A consortium of companies and organisations spanning the maritime, mining, steel and energy sectors is looking into developing a green corridor for zero-emission shipping of iron ore between South Africa and Europe, the Global Maritime Forum (GMF) says.

This is the first green corridor initiative from an African country. It will assess how zero-emission shipping on the corridor can bring in new opportunities for sustainable development in South Africa, by looking at bunkering, availability of green fuel and supply offtake agreements, and financial and business model alternatives.

The consortium is headed up by GMF and includes mining group Anglo American, Tata Steel, shipowners and operators CMB and Vuka Marine, port company Freeport Saldanha and French utility Engie.

South Africa is well placed to be a green maritime hub, as it has the highest volumes of maritime traffic in Africa outside of the Mediterranean region and the best-connected port systems on the continent, the GMF said.

“It is fantastic to see this powerful industry consortium come together around a new green corridor with one side in South Africa, particularly as it sends a clear signal of industry action as we go into negotiations at MEPC 80 in July,” says GMF's chief executive Johannah Christensen.

By Debarati Bhattacharjee

Please get in touch with comments or additional info to news@engine.online