Work is due to begin on Phase 2 of the container terminal at Mozambique’s Nacala, which is the next substantial port south of Dar es Salaam. As with Phase 1, the Japanese government is providing funding via the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Total investment costs are put at US$400M, but this is believed to include the US$250M that has already been spent on Phase 1.
Expansion of Nacala, previously a small, local port, was originally purely designed to cope with exports from the country’s burgeoning coal industry. Given that the coal industry requirements would require the provision of a great deal of physical infrastructure, such as rail and road links, plus port security, the government decided to make use of its natural deepwater harbour to develop a new container facility in the underdeveloped north of the country.
According to the government, annual handling capacity will be increased from 180,000 TEU to 250,000 TEU, although port operator Portos do Norte puts current handling capacity at 100,000 TEU a year. It is hoped that Nacala will attract some transhipment business, as well as supporting domestic agricultural and forestry trade. In addition, a new industrial zone is planned in Tete Province, which is connected to Nacala by rail.
The project is scheduled for completion in 2020. In a statement, JICA commented: “The project aims to increase cargo handling productivity, which is pivotal for exports and imports in northern Mozambique, thereby contributing to economic development and poverty reduction in the Nacala Corridor, which stretches from northern Mozambique to Malawi and Zambia.”
Portos do Norte has previously reported that Phase 2 will include the dredging of berth 1 to 14m, the purchase of two STS cranes, a new access road for general cargo trucks, improved access roads and gate system for container trucks, and increased space for container storage.
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This complete item is approximately 300 words in length, and appeared in the February 2017 issue of WorldCargo News, on page 9. To access this issue download the PDF here.
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