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First phase of Mombasa's second box terminal commissioned

THE first phase of Mombasa Port's second container terminal has been commissioned after Japan committed KES27 billion (US$267 million) for phase two.

The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) temporarily assumed management of the facility in February after a protracted court battle stalled the search for a concessionaire, the Nairobi Business Daily reported.

The terminal built at a cost of KES30 billion has a capacity of 550,000 TEU and has been receiving vessels since April.

Transport Principal Secretary Irungu Nyakera said tendering for the implementation of phase two of the project is expected to start in January.

"We expect the construction of the second container terminal phase two to commence in June 2017," he said.

The project, he said, will take between two and three years to complete with a capacity of 450,000 TEU at full build out.

Speaking at the Port of Mombasa, Mr Nyakera said phase three of the project will kick off immediately after the second is completed.

The entire project will give the Port of Mombasa an additional capacity of 2.5 million TEU. The second container terminal phase will push the container terminal capacity to 1.55 million TEU up from 1.08 million TEU.

Said Finance Minister Henry Rotich: "In five years' time, we expect to have hit 2.5 million TEU after completing the second phase."

Africa is currently seeing a major period of growth, with South Africa seeing box volumes between two and five million TEU, said London's Port Technology.