The second container terminal project in Mombasa has officially reached 70 per cent in completion, with the whole project expected to be complete in March next year. This was according to Kenya Ports Authority Managing Director, Gichiri Ndua.
The US$ 283m project, which is located at Kilindini harbor on 100 hectares of land, is anticipated to increase operations at the port of Mombasa and enhance growth of the economy in the northern corridor.
Gichiri Ndua said that the multi-million oil terminal project will benefit the country and its citizens as it will expand container handling capacity of the port of Mombasa, since it will have three berths
The construction project will make the facility have three berths with quay lengths of 230, 320 and 350 metres, which will see capacity of port increase to 1.2 million twenty feet equivalent units (Tues.).
The oil terminal construction project is being funded by a loan from the Japanese Government through the Japan International Co-operation Agency. Kenya is also contributing Ksh. 5 billion shillings through Kenya Ports Authority – KPA and adding Shs. 612 million to compensate people displaced by the project.
The new cargo berth is being constructed by China Roads and Bridge Corporation while dredging is being undertaken by Van Oord Dredging and Marine Contractors – a company based in Netherlands.
This forms part of many projects being undertaken by government to open up infrastructure. Earlier October last year, Kenya awarded a contract to Niras to design a new oil terminal in order to replace the old Kipevu Oil Terminal.
