Paulo Jafar Tarmamade has assumed leadership of the Mozambican Dredging Company (EMODRAGA) with a clear mandate to restore navigability at Beira Port. According to Club of Mozambique, the new chairman pledged to intensify dredging efforts at other national ports to facilitate maritime trade for the region. He emphasized that keeping channels clear is vital for the regular operation of port infrastructure and the movement of ships.
Prime Minister Benvinda Levi issued these directives during the swearing-in ceremony for Tarmamade. She challenged the firm to ensure that access channels, turning basins, and berthing areas remain open for vessels. Levi stressed that the company must undertake construction dredging to support logistics corridors serving the hinterland. She also urged the integration of new technologies to strengthen operational capacity.
Levi demanded rigorous financial discipline from the new management. She called for strict control over budget execution and the diversification of revenue sources to support the company’s public service mission. Furthermore, she requested a preventive maintenance plan based on defined priorities to avoid future navigational issues. The Prime Minister emphasized that prudent resource management is essential for long-term success.
Tarmamade highlighted the specific challenges at Beira Port, located between the Púnguè and Búzi rivers. He explained that these rivers continuously deposit sediment into the access channel, requiring periodic removal to maintain depth. He warned that neglecting this work could jeopardize port operations by restricting vessel entry and maneuvering. He argued that interventions must maintain the operational conditions of the entire port complex.
The new chairperson stated that EMODRAGA’s strategy covers all national ports, not just Beira. He aims to ensure better navigability and more efficient maritime operations across the country. Tarmamade undertook to raise targets to fulfill the company’s role in keeping access channels operational. This commitment aligns with Levi’s call for a structured approach to dredging that prioritizes critical infrastructure needs.