OPERATIONS at the port of Mombasa are set to improve after the Sh4.8 billion berth number 19 was commissioned yesterday.

The port will have capacity for more container terminals and serve Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and adjoining areas.

It will also create more jobs.

East African Community chairman President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, President Uhuru and Rwanda's President Paul Kagame opened the new phase yesterday.

The berth was constructed on reclaimed sea space with materials extracted from the seabed.

The port is only second to the one in Durban, South Africa in its ability to handle cargo.

The new berth, with 15 acres of stacking yard, will provide an additional capacity of 200,000 Twenty Foot Equivalent Units.

Container traffic through the port this year, in the first quarter, recorded 74, 000 containers compared to 76,000 in the same period last year, which was said to have been affected by the General Election campaign.

Museveni asked the EAC member states to make a strong common market and create jobs.

He asked them to promote the region as a major business hub to attract investors.

Museveni said the Mombasa port is key for regional trade as it serves the entire East and Central African region.

Uhuru said integrity, efficiency, discipline and accountability will be the motto with which the port impacts business in the region.

He said he is determined to transform Mombasa into the largest, busiest and most business-friendly seaport on the East African coast.

"We have no option. We are the custodians of the gateway to East Africa," Uhuru said.

Kagame called for a speedy integration of the East Africa Community.

"Rwanda people are ready to work for the integration of an East African common market. They have waited for long," he said.

The 240m long berth is expected to boost container handling operations and increase capacity at the port. The new berth brings to 840m the total quay length of the container terminal enabling three Panamax vessels of up to 250m long each to berth at any given time.

The increased cargo traffic is seen as an indicator of economic activity in East Africa. Apart from Kenya, the port handles cargo to and from Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia.

Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, Mining Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala, area MPs, ministers from partner states and other leaders attended the function.

 

Posted on : 30 Nov,-0001