Port project to handle coal underway

MTWARA: THE government has set aside 434.5bn/- for the construction of a port at Kisiwa Mgao area in the outskirts of Mtwara Region to serve as a special terminal to handle and transport coal.

Mtwara Port Manager Mr Ferdinand Nyathi made the revelation here yesterday, saying the plan is to boost further Mtwara port’s operational efficiency and provide cost effective services at the port to carter for rising cargo volumes of coal and other products.

Mtwara port is currently experiencing a rise in coal export following a huge demand for the commodity in the world market. According to Mr Nyathi, the volume of cargo handled by Mtwara Port has more than doubled according to the past financial year.

“Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) is doing a lot on port infrastructure investments especially on Mtwara port to boost operational efficiency…the ‘dirty’ port to be constructed at Kisiwa Mgao area will further increase future operational efficiency for Mtwara Port,” he said.

He said the ‘dirty’ port at Kisiwa Mgao is a strategic project to serve coal, cement, graphite and other similar products.

Mr Nyathi made the revelation here when briefing journalists about activities to be conducted by the management of Mtwara port during Customer Week Services lunched last Monday.

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Mr Nyathi said the management of Mtwara Port has organised various activities including doing customer visits, organising a help customer desk to provide assistance and information to the customers to amplify and give them confidence about the port services.

“With the theme ‘Above and Beyond’ the management of Mtwara Port has organised various activities to provide assistance and information to our customers, speaking to our customers’ about the port’s future plans aiming at increasing operational efficiency,” he said.

Mr Nyathi said basing on the theme ‘Above and Beyond ‘ reflect the future plans by the TPA to boost further ports operational efficiency by improving port infrastructures. He mentioned ‘dirty’ port at Kisiwa Mgao as one of the strategic plan to increase efficiency in future.

Meanwhile, Mr Nyathi said the Mtwara port is well set to handle and transport raw cashewnuts to be produced in the Southern Zone area during Cashew nuts auctions season to begin next Friday.

He said the port has received over 1000 containers to transport the cashew nuts. My Nyathi said the port has also received confirmation on three ships that will transport cashews.

He said that another cargo ship is expected to arrive in Mtwara to deliver more 600 containers to handle the cashews.

“The port is well organised to transport the cashew nuts, we have already availed over 1000 containers and more are coming to ferry cashews and three cargo ships have confirmed to ship the cashews,” he said.

He assured customers that the management of port is well set to ensure efficiency, as the port has all the essential port facilities and workforce to handle cashews consignment.