The second yard, currently under construction, measures 79,000 square metres. Upon completion of the project next March, Mtwara Port will increase its cargo handling capacity from 400,000 tonnes per annum to 1,000,000 tonnes.
Mtwara Port, which is described as a natural harbour, is a strategic port for the country given its geographical position.
An ongoing expansion work is one of the measures by the government to implement a number of projects under Mtwara Development Corridor.
Mtwara Port Engineer Norbert Kalembwe said the construction of the second berth started in May 2017 under the 'Design and Build' approach.
According to the port engineer, preparations of all necessary construction materials are nearing completion. Currently, Mtwara Port plays a significant role in ferrying cashew nuts abroad, including Vietnam.
Cashew nut, a cash earning crop for the southerners, is one of the dependable forex earners for the country. Cement produced at Dangote Cement Plant has been reaching markets in Comoro, Zanzibar and some parts in SADC region through Mtwara Port.
A fertiliser plant to be established in Lindi will also depend on the port for the product to reach markets in some parts in the southern region and beyond.
Read the original article on Daily News.