Keeping it cool in public cold stores Compiled by Eamonn Ryan In recent years , the demand for public cold storage facilities across sub-Saharan Africa has surged .
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
FEATURE
Keeping it cool in public cold stores Compiled by Eamonn Ryan In recent years , the demand for public cold storage facilities across sub-Saharan Africa has surged .
These vital infrastructures play a pivotal role in maintaining the quality and safety of perishable goods , from fresh produce to vaccines . As the continent grapples with food security challenges and strives to enhance healthcare delivery , public cold stores are emerging as game-changers .
Public cold stores are facilities that provide cold storage services to public companies which for reasons of convenience prefer not to have their own distribution centre .
In the cold chain , these facilities are used to store perishable goods such as fruits , vegetables , meat , seafood and dairy products , among others , at controlled temperatures to maintain their quality and freshness from production to consumption . Public cold stores are available for use by anyone who needs to store their products at a controlled temperature , including farmers , distributors , retailers and exporters .
They include freight consolidators , bulk breakers at Africa ’ s ports , as well as the major public stores that manage only pallets in and out . Some cover the entire value chain from farm to merchandising on supermarket shelves ’ temperature , including farmers , distributors , retailers and exporters .
GROWING INTEREST IN AFRICA
If the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement ( AfCFTA ) are to be realised , it is insufficient for South Africa alone to have a comprehensive cold chain – it needs to spread continent-wide . And that is happening – albeit slowly . In an article in this issue , we profile new facilities in Kenya which have increased the cold chain ’ s capacity in that country by 25 %.
Last year too , additional facilities were opened at the Port of Maputo – primarily targeting South African citrus exports . The Port of Maputo has gained new fresh produce cargo handling capacity with the opening of two new cold storage facilities that were ready to service customers during the 2023 citrus export season .
The latest developments come after the port restarted the flow of South African citrus via the DP World Maputo terminal for export globally to the Middle East and India and the Far East in 2022 . All the citrus exported via the Maputo fruit terminal originates in South Africa ; there is a special arrangement for perishable products transported through the Komati border post into Mozambique .
It opened with initially 1 500-pallet capacity and it was planned to grow to 4 500-pallet capacity . The ZPI Cold Store is the second new Maputo facility located near Zimpeto . The cold storage facility has 1 344-pallet capacity and an ambient warehouse that can pack approximately 50 reefers per week . The opportunity to export citrus via Maputo has provided citrus growers with an alternative
Supplied by Commercial Cold Holdings Supplied by Commercial Cold Holdings solution to moving their cargo through the congested Durban Port that is historically one of the main ports handling citrus exports for the region .
DP World will continue to invest in the port capacities to ensure volumes can grow unimpeded . Furthermore , DP World Maputo is undergoing a major expansion for Maputo where it will add 400m of deep-water quayside ( 16.5m draft ) with new shore-toshore quay cranes . This will be completed by the end of 2025 .
DP World has invested in 440 reefer plugs in the terminal and has additional shipping line services to major markets with Unifeeder and ONE servicing the Middle East and India markets and CMA CGM , PIL , ONE , MSC and Maersk operating on the Far East route .
The South African citrus-growing region located just across the Mozambique border produces more than 50 000 FEUs ( fortyfoot equivalent units ) over a six-month season . Since securing the concession to manage , develop and operate the container terminal , DP World made it clear that its ambition was to provide export and import solutions to be the hinterland ’ s gateway of choice for customers in Mozambique and neighbouring countries .
The interest in Africa in building temperature-controlled warehouses for horticultural needs is growing , as regularly referenced in various project articles by InspiraFarms in Cold Link Africa , including this issue . There are some special funding opportunities through the World Bank and developers are seeing this as an opportunity . As the density of cities grows and the traffic congestion increases , the move to more formal trading will increase and so will the requirement for cold chain infrastructure .
While some farmers are interested in exporting quality products , others want to reduce the waste and product loss , but overall , there is a big need for cold chain solutions . There is a future vision of Africa becoming the centre of agriculture – the tropical fruits are among the best quality in the world and of interest to many investors looking to establish cold chains to reduce the considerable loss of fresh fruit and vegetables . With more awareness and investment , the future looks promising in having more temperature-controlled facilities accommodating different products . As for frozen food cold storage , the demand is stable for now but will be expected to increase as cold chains improve .
SGH Freezer , still under construction in Gqeberha , Eastern Cape offering frozen capacity as well as chilled capacity for the fruit export industry .
CCS Logistics Midrand E & I , offering 33 000 pallets frozen bulk storage and 26 tons blast freezing capability .
© Cold Link Africa
Chilleweni warehouse featured in a previous Cold Link Africa project .
KEY FACTORS IN DESIGNING PUBLIC COLD STORAGE FACILITIES
There are a number of essential considerations and challenges involved in designing and constructing these crucial storage spaces within the cold chain industry , explains John Ackermann , founding president of SARDA , as well as previous owner and current consulting editor of Cold Link Africa .
Unpacking the key factors to consider in the design and construction of public cold storage facilities , Ackermann emphasises the importance of adhering to technical requirements applicable to all cold storage facilities . In addition , he highlights the significance of accessibility . " In designing public cold stores , good access from all routes , including major highways and rail connections , is paramount . Clients come from diverse locations , so accessibility is crucial ,” he says . Furthermore , Ackermann stressed the importance of adequate loading and receiving bays , as well as facilities for drivers such as restrooms and ablution facilities . These amenities are essential to accommodate drivers of clients who utilise the public cold storage facility . Regarding inventory management and stock rotation , each facility typically employs its own unique management system as they cater to a diverse range of clients , and thus , inventory rotation strategies may vary depending on individual client needs .
" It ’ s important to understand that public cold stores serve various clients , each with distinct requirements ," explains Ackermann . " Inventory rotation and management strategies are tailored to meet the specific needs of each client ."
COLD LINK AFRICA • May 2024 www . coldlinkafrica . co . za 13