Tanzania will begin building a new port in the eastern region this December, a senior government official announced, marking the end of a decade-long delay caused by the government’s objections to earlier contract terms agreed with foreign developers.
The Bagamoyo port project, part of an expansive special economic zone that includes industrial parks as well as rail and road links, is situated about 75 km (47 miles) north of Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial hub, according to Reuters.
Don’t Miss This:
China Signs Deal To Upgrade TAZARA Railway In Zambia
Government spokesperson Gerson Msigwa told reporters on Sunday that the port is planned to have 28 berths, with construction initially starting on 14. He added that construction machinery is already en route, though he did not provide further details.
According to him, the port will be built with a depth of up to 20 meters, allowing it to accommodate larger vessels than any other port in the eastern Africa region. “The port will be able to handle ships with a capacity of up to 25,000 containers,” he said.
Msigwa did not disclose the project’s value or the identity of the construction contractor.
Tanzania originally signed a framework agreement in 2013 with China Merchants Holdings International and Oman’s State General Reserve Fund, but progress stalled after the government deemed the contract terms unfavorable.
Following her inauguration in 2021, President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced that her administration had reopened negotiations to revive the $10 billion project.
Don’t Miss This:
China Overtakes EU To Control Majority Of Cameroon’s Industrial Equipment Market
Image Credit: ETInfra.com
