After protracted complains from the business
community, the Port of Mombasa has set out to reclaim its allure and regain its
position as the gateway to East Africa with the joint venture collaboration
with their sister port in Dar to end congestion at the East Africa maritime.
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| Kenyan High Commissioner in Tanzania, Mr. Mutinda Mutiso in his office |
Speaking to invited dignitaries, the Kenyan High
Commissioner in Tanzania, Mr Mutinda Mutiso said that the two ports are in keen
collaboration to end congestion at the East African ports as far the regional
integration is concern.
Just when most importers were increasingly opting to
use the Dar es Salaam Port due to inefficiencies and congestion at the Mombasa
Port, its high time for the two ports to have keen collaboration because the
Dar port are now experiencing the same problem.
Mr Mutiso
said the new terminal of Juba port will be positioned to cater for the
projected container increase in excess of 960,000 Twenty Foot Equivalent Units
(Teus) by 2015.
“The need for the construction and the improvements
of East African ports cannot be over emphasised,” Mutiso said, adding that the Kenyan
State would ensure the development of the regional Port of Lamu is on schedule
to meet the growing demand for port services.
“I am glad that the tendering process for a
contractor of the first three berths at the regional Port of Lamu is ongoing
and a contract will be awarded soon,” he said.
Gichiri Ndua Managing Director of the Kenya Port
Authority said the business community was upbeat the new terminal of Lamu will
enhance efficiency for businesses operating in the country.
Projections by the Kenya Port Authority show the new
terminal will significantly increase the port’s capacity and throughput –
something that is critical in driving economic growth in Kenya and the region
as a whole.
Apart from Kenya, the port also serves Uganda,
Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The new terminal will have a capacity of 1.2 million
Teus per year and will have three berths that measure 230, 320 and 350
metres. Over the last 12 years, traffic
through the Port Mombasa had increased by 7.4 per cent per annum, rising from
nine million tonnes in 2000 to 20 million tons in last year.
Over the last five years, throughput levels have
averaged 5.7 per cent that is more than the average growth rate of global
maritime trade of 3.5 per cent annually.
Ends.
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