Porto do Lobito reduced its employee costs by 60 percent, due to its transformation into Porto Senhorio, said yesterday its Chairman of the Board of Directors
Celso Rosas explained that as a result of this transformation, 858 workers were transferred to two consortiums, 128 to Lobito Atlantic Railway, which manages the mineral terminal, and 730 to África Global Logistics, which has the multipurpose pier (general and containerized cargo) under your responsibility. According to Celso Rosas, who spoke to Angop, these costs were related to salaries, medical and medication assistance, basic food baskets, training and other expenses.
The manager said that, despite this, there was also a decrease in revenue in the same proportion or a little more. “The company no longer has a high cost of personnel and will, in effect, be able to invest more in the development of port infrastructures”, he explained. The PCA ensured that the transfer process was conducted with transparency, wisdom and fairness by the company’s Board of Directors, with clear information about the process itself, in workers’ assemblies or with their representatives on the Union Committee. Regarding the clauses of the agreement with the greatest impact, Celso Rosas highlighted the one that ensures transfer conditions and guarantees the continuity of jobs and remuneration (declaration of income signed by workers).
Regarding the entry into operation of the consortia, he confirmed operations at the multipurpose terminal, while at the mineral terminal he said they would be coming soon. He recalled that, on December 31, 2023, a train entered for the operation of the first experimental shipment of copper ore, coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), within the scope of the railway and logistics services concession support for the Lobito Corridor. When asked about the amount that the Port collects monthly from the two consortiums, he simply said that the company will receive a fixed income, which has to do with leasing the facilities, and a variable income, which will depend on the volume of monthly traffic.
“With these concessions, the Angolan Executive, in general, hopes to boost the productivity of the terminals and contribute to the sustainable growth of the region”, he considered. According to the PCA, concessionary companies, during the management period, will make significant investments in equipment, infrastructure and staff training, safeguarding employment, as well as workers’ rights. During the conversation, the subject of debts, both owed by Porto to its suppliers, as well as that of its customers, was also discussed. Regarding this aspect, he informed that his Board of Directors remains concerned with the amortization of the debt incurred, as there is a monthly payment plan and “the commitment is to maintain good relations with partners”. “Hence, the CA will seek to maximize and optimize its assets, with a view to generating new profitable businesses, in light of our Master Plan”, he explained.
More than 32 billion in debt
Referring to the debt of clients, namely public and private entities, Celso Rosas said that it is amounted to 32 billion, 863 million, 301 thousand, 783 kwanzas and 48 cents. “We are committed to recovering customer debt, although the process is not easy. We have had satisfactory results, as those with some complexity were sent to legal bodies such as the Institute of Asset Management and State Participation (IGAPE), the General Tax Administration (AGT) and the Ministry of Finance, through the Management Unit of Public Debt (UGDP)”, he informed.
As for the relationship with former partners, namely shipping agents, freight forwarders, brokers and others, he considers that “it remains good”. “Despite having moved to Porto Senhorio, the company will not stop interacting with its customers and partners, because providing quality services and also active collaboration with them is part of our values”, he highlighted. Celso Rosas also stated that the company has had contacts with other Landlord Ports to obtain experience, such as Luanda and others internationally.