Mozambique sees Pemba challenging African ports
The refurbishment of the port in the northern province of Cabo Delgado is expected to cost several million dollars and be completed by 2009, Orio Benzane, an official with Mozambique's Ports and Railways Company (CFM), told Reuters in an interview.
The company expects that Pemba, which has seen an eight-fold increase in traffic since 2006, will be able to handle large cargo ships and compete with rival ports at Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and Mombasa in Kenya after its redevelopment.
"We are looking at the future and the indication is that the volume of cargo in the region will require that Pemba port be an alternative ... for the region," Benzane said.
"We want a model harbour which can help ease traffic and cargo congestion in east African ports."
Modernising Mozambique's ports and rail lines, which were badly damaged in a 17-year civil war that ended in 1992, is a key part of Mozambican President Armando Guebuza's efforts to boost foreign investment and trade.
The former Portuguese colony's fast-growing economy, still largely dependent on agriculture, has been handicapped by poor infrastructure, especially outside the capital Maputo.
Benzane said the Pemba port, which handles petroleum, timber, cotton and other cargo, was ideally positioned to become one of east Africa's most important ports largely because of a relatively deep harbour that did not require dredging.
But he added that the port would require investments in new packaging and container equipment.
