[030115.EN.SEA] Kenya Seeking Operator For 2nd Box Terminal at Mombasa Port

STATE-RUN Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) is seeking a concessionaire to operate the first phase of a second terminal it is building at its main Mombasa port to handle increased cargo traffic within the east Africa region.

KPA said in an advertisement in the Daily Nation newspaper the first phase of the US$300 million terminal will comprise two berths which are due to be handed over by the contractor in March 2016, Reuters reported.

By 2016 the new terminal is projected to have a capacity of 450,000 TEU that is set to rise to 1.2 million TEU by 2019.

The Indian Ocean port, which is the biggest in east Africa and the region's trade gateway, handles fuel and consumer good imports as well as exports of tea and coffee for landlocked neighbours such as Uganda and South Sudan.

The port expects to handle 14 per cent more cargo this year, helped by its expanded capacity and a marketing drive. Port managing director Gichiri Ndua said in November that cargo throughput was expected to reach 25.5 million tonnes this year, up from 22.31 million in 2013.

The nation is also building a second port in Lamu, north of Mombasa, with an annual capacity of 23 million tonnes of cargo, the report added.

Source : HKSG.