Cargo discharged from ships to be loaded directly onto the SGR rail

[MK254]

The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) will soon start handling conventional cargo after extension of the railway line to cover 10 berths at the Port of Mombasa.

SGR project manager, Eng. Maxwell Mengich, said completion of the extension will make it possible for cargo discharged from a ship to be loaded directly onto the rail.

The extended line will be complete by August, with Kenya Railways (KR) managing director Atanas Maina indicating that construction work is more than 50 per cent complete.

“Its completion expected in four months’ time. The bridge is intended to connect SGR to berth number one to 10, which largely handles bulls and other conventional cargo,” Mr Maina said.

Its completion will enable the freight train to handle non-containerized (conventional) cargo such as fertilizers, grains and steels among others.

Mr Maina said the SGR line is currently connected to berths number 11 to 21, which mostly handle containerised cargo discharged at the by a ship.

“We are also targeting conventional cargo since we have wagons that can handle this too. On the Nairobi side, such cargo will be handled at the Nairobi Freight Terminal (NFT), which is next to the terminus,” he said during an interview.

He said the reason for linking all berth to the SGR line is to ensure efficiency at the port and utilise effectiveness of the facility to generate more revenue.

Boost volumes

“It will steer economic development for the country. The focus is to ensure SGR can lift any type of cargo from the port in order to optimise on its capacity and efficiency...It will be possible to handle many trains in up and down direction,” Mr Maina said.

Mr Mengich reckons the move will also boost the volume of cargo transported via SGR.

“This includes the conventional ones transported through the SGR. Conventional cargo discharged at the Port of Mombasa will be transported through the SGR after the 10 berths have been linked to SGR line,” he said.

Tension

The completion is also likely to heighten tension between the State and industry players including truck transporters who rely on ferrying goods from the port to countries including South Sudan, Uganda and DR Congo for a living.

Even as the government tries to facilitate easier movement of cargo by extending the line to cover all berths, the move is likely to edge out trucks from the lucrative container business.

Currently, the SGR mostly transports containerised cargo and not conventional.

The extension is being undertaken by Chinese contractor China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), which is part of the Sh327 billion railway project.
SGR set to start handling conventional cargo at port

 

[Mkikuyu- Akili timamu]

Expensive white elephant trying to paint itself a new shade of white..

 

[3rd man]

Expensive white elephant trying to paint itself a new shade of white..

mzee mapumbu povuuu

 

[Geza Ulole]

Expensive white elephant trying to paint itself a new shade of white..

Hahaha

 

[waltham]

Governor Joho alisema. kazi zinahepeshwa kwenda nairobi, naivasha ect. Sasa ukiweka direct kwa SGR hapo kazi hasikuhamishwa toka msa au bado wasubiri eveidence nyingine!!!!
oho resists transfer of port services to Naivasha
Jan. 23, 2018, 2:00 am
By ERNEST CORNEL @oduorernest
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Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has said the state has started transferring port services from Mombasa and pledged to stop the move.


Joho said on Sunday the move was weakening the Mombasa economy. He said he didn’t care if he was criticised, as he was before the General Election.

He spoke during the Coast People’s Assembly in Mombasa where members resolved to secede if major transfer to inland ports becomes a reality.

The secession chorus appears to be subsiding but it picks up whenever NASA principals tour the region.

Before the August 8 elections, Joho feuded with the government over establishment of the dry port in Naivasha.

Deathbed

He has said jobs will be lost and the Coast economy sabotaged by inland ports. He said Jubilee wants to subjugate Mombasa and force it to its “deathbed”. This placed him on the war path with the Presidency.

At the time, Deputy President William Ruto called Joho “an academic dwarf who lacks grasp on matters involving the port”.

Joho’s fued with the state over the port and other issues resulted in his security being withdrawn. He was excluded from presidential functions.

He did not budge, neither did the government and the war continued.

As soon as Joho was declared the winner, his tone towards Jubilee softened.

But Joho resumed his outbursts on Sunday when he said he will not compromise on residents’ interests.

“Most clearing and forwarding jobs will be lost,” he said.

Inland Container Depot

On December 16 last year, President Uhuru Kenyatta launched an Sh22 billion inland container depot in Naivasha.

He offered a 50 per cent discount to exporters who will use the facility.

The head of state directed 22 agencies that are members of the Mombasa Port Charter to meet their obligation in addressing logistical challenges.

Uhuru said the inland port will create jobs.

“The cargo moving up and down the line to and from the port for export will present opportunities for employment and wealth creation across the various counties,” he said during the launch.

Joho said if NASA leader Raila Odinga were president, transfer of port services to Naivasha or Embakasi would be halted.

NASA says Raila is to be sworn in as the People’s President on January 30.

 

[Bigirita]

Ndoto hizi...hahahaha