Tanzania will begin construction of a new port in the east of the country in December, ending a decade of delay after earlier objections to the original contract terms agreed with foreign developers. The Bagamoyo port forms part of a wider special economic zone concept that includes industrial parks and rail and road links. The site lies about 75 kilometers north of Dar es Salaam.
According to Reuters, the port has been planned with 28 berths, although construction will start with 14. The port is designed with a depth of up to 20 meters to receive larger vessels than any other port in the eastern Africa region. It is expected to handle ships with a capacity of up to 25,000 containers.
Gerson Msigwa, the chief government spokesperson, told reporters on Sunday that construction machinery was on the way, without giving further details. He did not specify the value of the project or the identity of the contractor.
Tanzania had signed a framework agreement in 2013 with China Merchants Holdings International and Oman's State General Reserve Fund. Implementation stalled because the government said the terms were not favorable for the country. After taking office in 2021, President Samia Suluhu Hassan stated that negotiations had restarted to revive the project, which had previously been described as a US$10 billion development.
The port is positioned within a strategy to expand logistics capacity in the region. For sectors moving fresh produce, including horticulture and greenhouse-grown crops, expanded maritime infrastructure may offer additional routes for both inputs and exports. The depth profile and container handling capacity could influence long-term freight options, although there are no details yet on timelines for operational readiness or integration with cold-chain facilities.
As construction begins with a phased approach to berths and supporting infrastructure, further details are expected from the Tanzanian government as work progresses.
Source: Container News
