Tanzania’s government signed a contract with the state-run China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) to expand the main port in the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, in a deal worth $154 million.

The funds have been raised from a loan from the World Bank, and will be used as part of the country’s ambition to become a regional transport and trade hub.

CHEC will build a roll-on, roll-off terminal and deepen and strengthen seven berths at Dar es Salaam port.

If the project is successful, container throughput capacity will increase from 20 million tonnes to 28 million tonnes. The project is scheduled to complete in 2020.

“Deepening and strengthening of the berths will allow big container ships to dock in Dar es Salaam,” said Makame Mbarawa, Transport and Communications Minister.

“All these efforts are being done in order to increase competitiveness of the port.”

Tanzania said in January it was to receive a $305 million loan from the World Bank to expand its main port, where congestion and inefficiencies are hampering service delivery.

Source: Supply Chain Digital

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