Behold the electrification of African ports

From the newsletter

A “reach-stacker” is a hydraulic lift used shipside. Kalmar Corp, a material handling equipment supplier, has delivered an electric reach-stacker to Egypt's Suez Canal Container Terminal. This pilot program is aimed at advancing the electrification of cargo handling and will serve to gather data on the performance of electric reachstackers.

• This marks the first Kalmar electric reach-stacker in Africa and a big step towards the Egyptian port's goal of being net-zero by 2040.

• The electric reach-stacker can lift up to 45 tonnes and is available with a range of modular battery options and charging solutions.

More details

• African ports are expanding as trade with the outside world increases. Investments are being directed towards port infrastructure and the continuous expansion of port facilities to accommodate larger vessels and increased container traffic. This growth means that the demand for material handling equipment in port operations is set to rise. Specifically, the demand for reach stackers and forklifts will increase due to a significant rise in container traffic and warehouse storage needs, driven by the expansion of global trade. As a result, cost reduction in material handling becomes crucial to avoid inflating the cost of goods, and electric reach stackers have the potential to achieve this

• Globally, we are seeing countries adopt electric reachstackers. Hutchison Ports has installed the first electric reach-stacker in Southern Europe at its Barcelona port. The Port of Helsingborg in Sweden has also adopted Kalmar's electric reach-stacker, marking a step towards its goal of replacing 75% of its heavy vehicle fleet with electric alternatives by 2026.

• The use of electric forklifts has already begun in several ports across Africa. In April 2024, the FPT Group Ltd, a private multi-purpose port terminal operator in the Port of Cape Town, South Africa, introduced a fleet of ten lithium-ion electric forklifts into its operations. Similarly, in March 2024, the Port of Beira in Mozambique introduced its first four electric forklifts.

• What makes this sector particularly interesting is that electric material handling equipment can be easily charged within the operational premises, simplifying the transition to electric power. Range is less of a concern because these vehicles operate within a confined area, unlike EVs for public transportation, which require the establishment of charging infrastructure along highways.

Our take

• The use of electric vehicles in material handling is a market that receives less attention in the e-mobility space, yet it holds significant potential. African countries are set to grow their industries and ports as global trade expands and the shipment of goods increases.

• Cost and efficiency are key things in operations. EVs have delivered this in other sectors. But more data is needed to ascertain its applicability in material handling.