EXPANSION OF KENYA PORTS

CONSTRATION OF BERTH 19 READY TO BEGIN.





EQUIPMENT for the construction of the eagerly awaited berth No. 19 has been mobilized to the site following its arrival this week.
The construction of the new berth similar to berth 16 – 18 will involve rein-forcement of the yard, reclamation of the sea and placement of strong con-crete blocks. The 5 ha yard will also have an administration block.
The project to extend berth 18 by 160 meters to complement berth 16-18 will be carried out by a Chinese firm in 18 Months. On completion the container terminal will have a total quay length of 760 meters and accommodate three medium sized vessels.
According to Eng Dan Amadi, the Authority expects to receive an additional capacity of 200,000 TEUs per annum once the project is completed.

Speaking during an investment conference for the coast region in a paper titled Port Services and Opportunities in Coastal Region, KPA managing director Mr James Mulewa, said studies are being carried out to set up such ports from Lunga Lunga in the South Coast to Lamu.

He added that the new investment will help ease congestion at the Mombasa Port, whose berths have been used beyond limit.

“This is part of the plans we have that also include the development of a second terminal, a gas terminal and full automation of port operations. Others are the Dongo Kundu bypass and a cruise terminal to enhance trade.

“Besides the port infrastructure that includes opening a second container terminal through Dongo Kundu connecting Mombasa with the South Coast and the second port in Lamu, there are other potentials for cruise ship facilities, water sports and fish landing sites,” he said, adding that the authority had over 400 acres of land in Kilifi suitable for a major conference and sporting facility, which provides an opportunity for investment under the Public Private Partnership.

In the near future, the Mombasa Port and the second one coming up in Lamu will play an important role in the trade in the East African Community and beyond.

“The investment that will come to the coast with the regional integration are way beyond what tourism and the international airport have brought. Consider all those goods going to be handled at the two ports for industries in the Congo, Sudan, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda among others



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Intense lobbying could delay construction of Mombasa terminal

 

Transport Weekly reports that intense lobbying over award of tenders at the Mombasa port in Kenya is threatening to delay construction of the second container terminal which is funded by the Japanese government.
According to officials at the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), some individuals who are connected to the firms that tendered for the job have been accused of lobbying for award of the multi-million dollar tender, even as the process awaits completion by the Japan Ports Consultants Limited (JPC).
The Kenya Anti Corruption Commission (KACC) said it was concerned about the manner of cancellation of some government tender processes, which ended up costing concerned parties millions of shillings besides scaring away investors.
The award of the tender is expected to be announced soon since the winner should start the job by next month, according to KPA. The project involves construction of two container handling berths and a smaller berth for pilots boats, mooring boats and tug boats for KPA.