Kenya is set to pump Sh19.3 billion ($193million) to modernize and upgrade four berths at the port of Mombasa.
According to the Managing Director of the Kenya ports Authority (KPA) Mr. Daniel Manduku, the upgrade has been informed by the growing demand for imported cargo in the region with an estimated growth of at least 5% every year.
After the modernation, Mombasa port will be able to handle goods packed in containers and also those not packed.
Built in 1895, the port of Mombasa is the main gateway for the East Africa region serving Kenya and its neighbors including South Sudan Uganda, Rwanda, and Somalia.
The European Investment Bank and French development agency AFD have offered to finance the modernization of the berths at commercial rates.
Construction works are expected to be completed by 2020 with private firms including Singapore and China expressing interest in leasing the port from the government of Kenya according to Manduku.
KPA is also planning spending an additional US $376m to construct a new oil terminal which will replace its existing facility which has been in existence since 1968.
China Communication Construction Company is the contractor of the project which is set to triple the ports’ annual capacity for oil and liquid gas to 1 million tonnes.
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