Authorities warn against unauthorised port activities.

Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) has warned that it is against the law for any institution or individual to develop, manage or operate any port in Tanzania without its consent.

 

The caution comes amid controversy surrounding the planned implementation of Mwambani Economic Corridor Project in Tanga Region by Mwambani Port and Railway Corridor Company (MWAPORC).

 

Recent media reports alleged that the authority has awarded a tender to develop Mwambani port to a private company without regard to standing procurement procedures.

 

However, TPA Acting Communications Director Janeth Ruzangi, dismissed the reports yesterday in Dar es Salaam saying no tender has been awarded in relation to the proposed development of Mwambai port.

 

Citing the Ports Act No. 17 of 2004, she warned that the law prohibits any entity to develop or operate a port without TPA’s approval. 

 

Clarifying, she said MWAPORC did indeed approach TPA but only expressed interest to develop a new port in Kigombe area, 25 kilometres from Mwambani.

 

With the consent of the Ministry of Transport, Ruzangi explained, TPA invited the company to present a feasibility study that would indicate the best place where to set up the new port between Kigombe and Mwambani. 

 

“Up to now, MWAPORC has not presented the feasibility study we asked for,” Ruzangi said.

 

She said before MWAPORC presented the proposal to TPA, a government feasibility study had already shown that Mwambani was best suited to develop a port that would be connected to the planned Tanga-Arusha-Musoma railway line. 

 

She said the feasibility study showed that Mwambani port would be able to handle up to seven million tonnes of cargo by 2035.

The acting Director clarified that although the name ‘Mwambani’ features in the TPA’s port project and in the proposed economic corridor project of MWAPORC, the two are completely separate. 

 

 She said TPA’s Mwambani port project is part of the Grand Master Plan that outlines the development of ports in Tanzania, and has nothing to do with MWAPORC’s proposed projects.

 

“The grand master plan details several development projects including the one at Mwambani. In essence this project seeks to strengthen the authority’s cargo handling capacity,” she said.

 

The feasibility study of Mwambani port, which was completed in August 2012, was carried out by a UK-based company M/s URS Scott Wilson, the official said adding that a tender to develop the proposed port, based on the design, build and finance concept,  was announced on 27 March 2014 and opening of the bids was on 27 June 2014.

 

However, after visiting the project site, she said, 34 bidders requested for more time to prepare bidding documents and TPA granted the request. Based on the bidders’ request, the bid opening day was pushed to 27 January 2015. 

 

“Those changes notwithstanding, no bidder showed up on 27 January 2015and because of that TPA is working on a new tender that we hope will have attractive terms for investors,” she said.