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In
Kenya, the tender process to operate the
second terminal currently under construction
in Mombasa took several twists and turns,
culminating in the recent sacking of the
main management board of the Kenya Ports
Authority.
The
terminal extension, which is due for completion
by the end of the first quarter this year,
has had its tender process cancelled as
a result of suspected improper business
practices.
Several
of the original 19 bidders who were disqualified
after the first round took their case to
court, and it is suspected that vast sums
already invested in the bidding process
have been wasted in the process.
The
political battle continues between the elements
of national and local government, dockers
union, importers associations and other
stakeholders of the Port of Mombasa, who
mainly oppose foreign stakeholders for the
concession.
It
is public knowledge that the main investors
behind this expansion and the new mega-port
project in Lamu to the North (which include
the investment agency of the Japanese government)
have demanded that the new facilities be
managed through public-private partnerships
with expert terminal operators.
In
the meantime the port of Mombasa itself
has claimed volume increases including a
significant annual increase of seven per
cent in terms of transshipment cargo, which
now accounts for 30 per cent of overall
volumes.
But
the terminal remains beset with road connectivity
problems with a recent survey by the Shippers
Council of East Africa confirming that the
normal 30 minute drive between the port
gates and the Mariakani weighbridge regularly
takes up to six hours due to traffic build-up.
A
spat has flared up between shippers and
the Mombasa County authority, which has
sought to introduce vessel and port handling
fees for vessel inspection, and selected
container fumigation and removals.
Recent
new customs regulations have also been introduced,
with the Kenya Revenue Authority announcing
that import containers will only be accepted
if they have been issued with the Certificate
of Conformity accepted for loading at origin.
In
the Horn of Africa, Djibouti continues consolidating
its position as the main safe harbour for
import and export operations to and from
neighbouring countries, Ethiopia in particular.
The
rail line has been nearly completed between
Addis Ababa and Djibouti, with the Ethiopian
Railway Corporation (ERC) announcing imminent
completion in early 2016.
The
various reports of interests from private
consortia in expanding the Somaliland port
of Berbera have been confirmed, with the
idea to serve as an eventual alternative
in the long-term for Djibouti, particularly
in live food stock and bulk exports.
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