This archive report was first published on 29 July 2020.
Construction works on the Lamu Port expansion project are progressing smoothly, with two new berths now complete, five months ahead of schedule.
According to Silvester Kasuku, director-general of the Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) authority, the first berth has been ready since last year, but the commissioning was delayed due to the pandemic and the itineraries of the three Heads of State involved in the project not coinciding.
The first phase of the port, involving three berths to handle container, conventional, and bulk cargo vessels, was fully funded by Kenya at a cost of $48 million.
Construction works on the two new berths are at more than 70 per cent, with the container yards yet to be finalised.
Published on July 29, 2020, the project's first phase began with dredging works in December 2016, and the government is expected to advertise tenders this year for the construction of the remaining 29 berths and other components of the corridor.
The Lapsset corridor will feature a standard gauge railway line, road networks, an oil pipeline and refinery, international airports, and resort cities in Larru, Isiolo, and Lake Turkana.
