Cargo at the Mombasa port. [Photo/ cipe.org]
The construction of the second phase of the second container terminal at Mombasa Port is expected to kick off before January.This comes after Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) received a Sh35 billion loan from the Japanese government.KPA Managing Director Catherine Mturi-Wairi has confirmed that the tendering process will be undertaken soon.Wairi said the construction of the container terminal which will provide an additional capacity of 450,000 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) will start by January 2018.The first phase, which has a handling capacity of 550,000 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) was completed last year.“We already have the Sh35 billion financing from the Japanese government. We are now in the tendering process but construction must commence by January 2018,” she said.Meanwhile, Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia has announced the government is sourcing for more funds for the construction of a modern and bigger terminal.The new terminal will replace the Kipevu Oil Terminal in Mombasa.Macharia also confirmed that the construction of the Mariakani-Mombasa dual carriageway which will cost the government Sh350 billion is ongoing.