Work on SADC Gateway port begins

Work has started on a new “SADC Gateway” port complex near the existing Walvis Bay harbour. Once complete it will include tanker and gas berths, breakbulk and container terminals, as well as a ship repair facility. China Harbour and Engineering Company, which is building the new container terminal in the port of Walvis Bay, moved on site in March this year. Work has started on an access road through the dunes before work starts on Phase One of the port project, which requires widening the harbour by about 180 metres and dredging out a 16.5-metre-deep access channel. Construction of the first phase, which is being funded by the Ministry of Mines and Energy, is expected to take about 27 months. Phase Two will see the building of an LNG gas terminal for a new power station behind Dune 7. A feasibility study for a 10-million-tons-a-year multipurpose bulk terminal will start at the end of 2015. The project is a year ahead of schedule and is aimed at positioning Walvis Bay as the gateway for commodity and other exports and importers from landlocked SADC countries. Included in the complex will be what the Namibian Ports authority (Namport) says will be “the largest, most modern ship and rig repair yard on the West African coast. This will be built in Phase 4 of the rollout.