Ephraim Mgawe, director general at TPA told Port Strategy: “The capacity utilisation at the existing port is high, over 90%, which calls for additional berths and terminal facilities.
“The required expansion to meet projected demand is not recommended at the existing location due to high costs involved.”
The expansion plan, currently at feasibility stage, involves a new port at Mwambani to help realise Tanga’s full capacity. Tanga is currently only a lighterage port located within the city centre with limited room for expansion.
TPA projects that cargo through Tanga Port is projected to grow to 4.6 million by the year 2028 which will only exacerbate current congestion problems.
With this in mind, TPA also plan to create a dry dock at Kisarawe which will be developed into a freight station able to handle containers and vehicles in large numbers.
According to the East African, the governments of Tanzania and Uganda have also signed an agreement to fast track the construction of a Tanga-Musoma-Uganda railway line which will allow speedy good transport between the two countries. According to the agreement and in addition to the expansion of Tanga, Musoma port will also be expanded and there are plans to build a new port in Uganda to serve the new railway line.