MOMBASA (Kenya Ports
Authority) -- The construction
involves reclamation of the sea which will place the berths more
than 700 meters into the Indian Ocean, with the first three
berths stretching 1.2 kilometers wide with a width of 750
meters.Kenya Ports Authority projects that the first
berth will be operational by June 2018 while the other two will
be ready by December 2020.
The contractor, China Construction Communication Company (CCCC)
, is also dredging the quayside and deepening the berth to 17.5
meters to enable the Port to handle post-panamax ships.
The course way is more or less completed since dredging works
are moving in harnessing at high speed and reclamation
activities for building of the cargo stacking yard are
proceeding very welL.
The dredging begun on 15th October 2016 and is currently
ongoing.
Other major developments at the Port site include the
following preliminary facilities:
LAPSSET Plaza (Port Headquarters), Port Police station,
Electric Power connection to the national grid, and water supply
to the Port.
Staff Housing for management and security is still under
construction with an estimated completion rate of 55 per cent.
The Government allocated LAPSSET ShlO billion in the current
financial year, 2017/18 on top of what had been allocated, which
is a similar amount in the last financial year.
The main aim of this project is to cut over-dependence on
Kenya’s main Port of Mombasa as well as open Kenya’s largely
under-developed northern frontier, through the creation of a
second transport corridor.
It will also open up trade between Kenya and its northern
neighbours of South Sudan and Ethiopia.
Demand for port services in East Africa is also on the rise
and Lamu port is expected to outstrip capacity in Kenya by 2022.
The Authority is currently in the process of procuring the
services of a Transaction Adviser to package the Lamu Port for
Investments.
Furthermore, the Government plans to concession the first
three berths to a Private Operator by 2018.
The remaining 29 berths will also be concessioned to the
Private Sector for both construction and operation.
Lamu Port Project: One of the flagship
infrastructure projects identified by the Government in
Kenya Vision 2030 is the development of a new transport
corridor linking a new and modern Port of Lamu with Garissa,
Isiolo, Maralal, Lodwar and Lokichogio and branching at
Isiolo to Moyale at the border with Ethiopia and proceeding
to the border with Southern Sudan.
The corridor to comprise of
• Standard gauge railway line
• Road network
• Oil pipeline ( Crude and product)
• Oil refinery ( Isiolo/ Lamu)
• International Airports (Lamu, Isiolo and Lokichogio)
• Port at Lamu (Manda Bay).
• Resort cities (Lamu, Isiolo and Lake Turkana)
Project Description: The proposed port site at
Manda bayat 40o 55’ East and 2o 11’ South was selected
because it has deep and sheltered bay and a wide navigable
entrance channel.
Hydraulic and geotechnical surveys have confirmed that the
area is suitable for port construction.
The 10Km shore length has the capacity to accommodate up to
Twenty Three (23) berths.
This development will include the long term physical planning
of Lamu Metropolis area to demarcate sections which will
accommodate complimentary cargo handling facilities such as
railway terminal, godowns, container freight stations, tank
farms, refinery, lorry terminals and also the social facilities
for migrant workers.
Associated infrastructures required will be the connection of
Lamu to the main electricity grid from Hindi, increase of
portable water supply within the region and upgrading of access
roads.
Project Benefits: The facilities at Lamu port once
complete will lead to creation of substantial job
opportunities that covers not only direct jobs related to
the Port operation but also indirect jobs of all fields
(Agriculture, fishery, manufacturing, logistics, transport,
trade, commerce, etc.)
The port is expected to attract larger cargo ships if run
efficiently will also provide direct benefits within the region
by passing on savings derived from lower marine costs due to
faster ship turnaround time and at the same timeof reducing the
cost of doing business
The new access and links with neighboring countries created
by the LAPSSET corridor will foster regional economic
development and growth through trade facilitation.
This will in turn lead to further creation of substantial job
opportunities and increased income in the area of value addition
especially on processing of agricultural products and cash-crop
exports.
The alternative destinations created by development of Resort
Cities in Lamu, Isiolo and Turkana are expected to increase
international tourist arrivals and push up the foreign exchange
earnings.
The opening of the Northern part of Kenya will not only pave
way for exploiting the existing natural resources like oil and
coal, but will also encourage the exploration of new finds.
It is expected that the port of Lamu would attract some of
the cargo which would traditionally pass through the ports of
Sudan, Djibouti and Mombasa.
The traffic forecast for this corridor predicts that in that
inclusive of demand from both South Sudan and Ethiopia, the Lamu
traffic is expected to reach 23.9 million tons by 2030.
