Japan today released funds for the second phase of expanding Kenya’s port of Mombasa.

Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) is providing a KES25Bn ($273M) loan for reclaiming land and building three berths and a container terminal at West Kipevu.

There are also plans to deepen channels, construct access roads and railway lines, and install new gantry cranes.

Japan has agreed to lend up to KES50Bn for Mombasa’s port expansion and associated works.

The full three-phase scheme developed by Japan Port Consultants for Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) will eventually cover 100ha near the existing Kipevu Oil Terminal.

Some preliminary dredging and land reclamation for the port extension took place last year.

KPA announced in December that Phase 1 of the new container terminal – expected to complete by March 2016 – was 65% complete.

The second phase will open in 2017 and the third in 2020, according to local media.

Meanwhile Trade Mark East Africa has financed KES100.2M of improvements to port access roads and gates.

On 1 January, KPA announced that last year, for the first time, the port handled more than 1M teu. The millionth container was unloaded from Liberian-flagged Lilly Schulte at Berth 19 on 31 December in the presence of transport secretary Michael Kamau.

Source: IHS Maritime 360

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