Tanzania’s modernization of ports is at the heart of the government’s ambitious revenue and infrastructure strategy. In the 2025/26 financial year, the government anticipates the collection of Sh. 1.38 trillion from Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) operations. It is a goal that is expected to facilitate a sweeping extension and modernization of major seaports and inland waterways in the country. Transport Minister Prof Makame Mbarawa, when presenting the Transport Ministry’s budget, said that over 6,300 ships will be handled by ports such as Dar es Salaam, Tanga, and Mtwara. Furthermore, the Lake Victoria, Tanganyika, and Nyasa ports will also be included.
Of these, 1,382 would be foreign deep-sea vessels, with 42.1 million gross registered tonnage. Cargo would also increase to almost 33 million tonnes. Container handling would rise to 1.3 million TEUs. Dar es Salaam Port, which services 98 percent of foreign trade, will be doubled from 12 to 22 berths and be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. “We are positioning Tanzania as a major regional trade platform,” Prof Mbarawa said in his address.
Also read:
Tanzania Ports Authority to construct extensive dry port at Katosho
Scope of Implementation on Tanzania’s Modernization of Ports
Tanzania’s modernization of ports includes both coastal and inland ports. Moreover, it includes key improvements to logistics and rail connections. Upgrading of the Kurasini facilities and connectivity to the SGR and TAZARA railways will be undertaken. A Single Receiving Terminal (SRT) with 15 oil tanks will be built by the government and the Kwala Dry Port will be upgraded to relieve the Dar es Salaam port congestion.
A dry port will be established at Ihumwa, Dodoma. Upgrading of a new line to Karema Port on Lake Tanganyika and upgrading of the MGR railway are also panned. This line will increase linkages to the DRC and the Great Lakes region. In Tanga, construction is under way of Berth No. 3 and petroleum infrastructure at Raskazone. Mtwara is also expected to have a new Kisiwa Mgao Port for sensitive cargo like coal and cement. Inland ports on Lakes Victoria, Tanganyika, and Nyasa will see vessel construction and infrastructure refurbishment to allow regional trade.
Bagamoyo Port: A Game-Changer for Regional Shipping
One of the greatest successes in Tanzania’s modernization of ports is the approval for the much-awaited Bagamoyo Port. The multibillion-dollar megaproject will accommodate post-Panamax vessels that can no longer fit into Dar es Salaam. “This port will revolutionize the way we manage international shipping,” Prof Mbarawa stated. Bagamoyo Port will also be linked to a new 100-kilometre modern railway to the Kwala Dry Port. It will also be a complement to the Bagamoyo Special Economic Zone as a logistics and an industrial growth center. The port design will decongest Dar es Salaam and route bigger vessels. Decentralizing port operations will strengthen Tanzania’s trade infrastructure and shift the burden off current facilities. This move is evidence of the government’s attempt to develop capacity for its future economic requirements. Through sound public-private partnerships, Bagamoyo will be sustainably and effectively developed into a pillar of the country’s integrated transport vision.
Also read:
TPA Signs Agreements with Saudi, China and Egyptian Firms on Plans for the Bagamoyo Port Project
