The start of construction work on the fence and port infrastructure of the Kwala dry port was officially launched on July 12, 2024 by the government of the Republic of Burundi. Burundi has benefited from 10 hectares in the Kwala Zone located in the Littoral region of Tanzania to build a dry port. This is to address the problems of traffic jams and insufficient space at the port of Dar-es-Salaam.
The launch of works for the construction of the fence and port infrastructure of the Kwala dry port took place on July 12, 2024.
“We hope that the Kwala dry port will be operational within three years,” said Marie Chantal Nijimbere, Minister of Trade, Transport, Industry and Tourism. This was on July 12 during the launch of the start of works for the construction of the fence and port infrastructure in the Kwala dry port area.
She reassures that the Kwala dry port will facilitate the importation of goods without Burundian economic operators having to go to the Dar-es-Salaam port where more than 90% of Burundian imports pass. According to Me Flory Okandju, Executive Secretary of the Central Corridor, the launch of the construction of the fence and port infrastructure at the Kwala dry port marks an important step in regional integration. This will improve transport infrastructure and promote business.
Central Corridor is a regional organization comprising 6 countries namely Burundi, Malawi, DR Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. It is this organization that carried out a feasibility and design study of the Kwala dry port area. The said corridor is renowned in facilitating transport and trade in the sub-region.
Work in two phases
The construction work of the fence and port infrastructure at the Kwala dry port will be carried out in two stages. The first stage concerns the construction of the fence. At this stage, feasibility studies have already been completed.
The construction work of the fence and port infrastructure at the Kwala dry port will be carried out in two stages, namely: construction of the fence and construction of the port infrastructure.
The second phase involves the construction of offices, hangars, installation of equipment such as cranes. Feasibility studies are still ongoing for this phase. The dry port of Kwala covers an area of 500 hectares.
A joy of time, distance and cost of transport
Dr. Ally Possi, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Transport of Tanzania confirms that the launch of works at the Kwala dry port is a sign of the good relations between Burundi and Tanzania. This sign aims at promoting trade and economy between the two countries.
“The operationalization of the Kwala dry port will lead to the reduction of the cost of transport in the East African region. This will promote economic growth,” he explains before announcing that the Kwala dry port will have a capacity to store more than 30,000 centenarians at one time, or a capacity of 500,000 tonnes per year.
The use of the Kwala dry port by Burundian economic operators will save storage costs and avoid hassles for transporters who exceed the grace period set at 14 days at the port of Dar-es-Salaam. This at a time when shipping line containers that exceed 14 days at the port of Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania fall directly into “storage”. This in turn causes “demurrage”.
The carrier is directly subject to fines. These dry ports will also contribute not only to avoiding traffic jams, but also to decongest the port of Dar-es-Salaam. Users of the Kwala dry port will also have 60 days to serve the cargo.
An agreement in principle on the construction of dry ports in Kwala, 80 km from Dar-es-Salaam, and in Katosho in Kigoma, more than 1,400 km from Dar-es-Salaam, two areas granted by Tanzania to Burundi, was signed on January 28, 2022 in Bujumbura.
#Burundi #Eco #Laying #foundation #stone #Kwala #dry #port
