A subsidiary of China Railways is considering investing in constructing a deepwater port in the West African state of Liberia. The China Railway Construction Bridge Engineering Bureau Group (CRBG) has assessed Greenville’s site for the port’s site. The town is about 240 kilometers southeast of Monrovia. Though the town’s population averages around 16,000 people, its port is the third largest in the country. The project seeks to ensure the port is reconstructed back to its original status. It was destroyed during the Second Liberian Civil War, fought between 1999 and 2003, and has never been fully restored. The port has two quays, 70m and 180m long, and a water depth of 6m. This is sufficient for the export of timber on small cargo ships. However, it is well short of the 13.7m required for a deepwater designation to handle Post-Panamax container ships.
Project Factsheet
Location: Greenville
Capacity: 5.3 million tonnes of cargo traffic annually
Country: Liberia
Significance: Largest deepwater port in Liberia
Project duration: 6 years
The State of Affairs Regarding the Construction of Liberia’s Deepwater Port
The construction of Liberria’s deepwater port is one that CRBG is greatly eyeing to be a part of. Scott Liu, the deputy general manager of the CRBG, expressed enthusiasm about Greenville’s investment potential. Furthermore, he noted that he looked forward to collaborating with the National Port Authority of Liberia to establish an investment roadmap. Speaking after his assessment, he said: “We are excited about the progress we see here, and this has encouraged us to see how to invest in the port.” Sylvia Tarley, the port’s director, said the expansion would restore the port and its infrastructure to pre-war condition. She said it would boost trade and tourism and become Liberia’s largest port by 2030.
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The Significance of the Port Once Completed
Once completed, Liberia’s deepwater port in Greenville is expected to bring unprecedented economic and social benefits. As noted earlier, the port’s director noted that it would be Liberia’s largest port by 2030. She also stated, “Over the next six years, our vision for the port of Greenville is to expand it, ensure that it becomes a transshipment centre where bigger ships will birth, and supplies be distributed to smaller ports in Liberia. We also envision that portion of the port will be an industrial park where companies or manufacturers will acquire land to produce resources that will contribute to the economy of Liberia.” Through this, the director notes that the port will have immense economic benefits for Liberia as a nation from the revenue it will earn. The allocated revenue could then be used to improve other sectors of the economy and the nation’s infrastructural system.
The Expected Timeline for the Completion of the Project
Completing Liberia’s deepwater port is expected to take at least 5 years. With construction expected to begin in the first quarter of 2025, the project is expected to be done by 2030. It aims to develop the public sector and the economies of Liberia’s 15 counties. Furthermore, it will ensure that Greenville and the rest of Liberia benefit from the endeavour. The project also aligns with the government’s ambitions as it falls under the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development rubric, which was launched last month.
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