Phase one port expansion 100 per cent complete, says Japan

A section of the Port of Mombasa .PHOTO BY MAARUFU MOHAMED/STANDARD

Japan has confirmed the 100 per cent completion of the first phase of the Mombasa Port Development Project (MPDP).

The Sh22 billion project that started back in March 2012 with an aim of decongesting the Mombasa port by creating three more berths (berth 20, 21 and another small berth) was scheduled to be complete by February 29.

Deputy Project Manager Masati Kaneko confirmed that phase one of the expansion project is complete and ready for hand over to the government.

"We are within the schedule as planned on completion of phase one of the project. There might be some little work to be touched up but overall the new terminal is ready for handover," said Kaneko over the weekend when the Japan delegation toured the new Kipevu terminal.

Kaneko said package one of the project carried out by Toyo Construction Company was the one still doing some touch ups: "However, package two which is procurement of equipment by Toyota Tsusho Corporation is 100 per cent complete."

Package one was basically construction which took 48 months from March 2012 while package two took 20 months from December 2015.

Toyota has procured two ships to shore cranes each 1,200 tons and up to 90, meters high and four others that will operate on shore.

Over 20 million tons of sand and 4,000 tons of stones from the deep sea were excavated to create dry land and deeper harbour. Total reclaimed volume was 3,700,000 cubic meters.

The access roads, trunk roads and connection roads are fully operational which will ease traffic and reduce the turnaround time of trucks with ease connectivity to other ports as well.

Currently, Mombasa handles and average of 0ne million containers annually but it had a projected target of 1.32 million with the new terminal.

President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to officially open the port on a later date as construction of phase two and three continue.