Bagamoyo Port


The Bagamoyo Port is being constructed in Bagamoyo, Tanzania. Work started in 2018. It is planned to be one of the largest government infrastructure projects in the country. The Bagamoyo port and its affiliate industrial zone is meant to address congestion at the old port and support Tanzania to become East Africa’s leading shipping and logistics centre.

History

Contracts to begin port construction were signed in October 2015 and was set to complete phase I of the construction project in 2017. The project was cancelled by a new government 3 months later in January 2016
In 2018, the project got the go ahead and work started in about June/July. It will be built in association with the state-owned China Merchants Port, it will include a special economic zone. The US$10 billion project is backed by an Omani sovereign wealth fund.

Plan

The port is set to handle 20 million teu by 2045 and will be the largest port in East Africa when completed. The project is a tri-government venture between Tanzania, China and Oman. The port is to handle 25 times the amount of cargo of Dar es Salaam Port and will help reduce the congestion at the port. The project also involves the construction of a Special economic zone adjacent to the port. Also to be constructed around Bagamoyo area are over 190 industries, including the manure processing industry that will be put up by the government of Oman. When fully developed, the Bagamoyo Special Economic Zone will attract about 700 industries to become a strategic investment zone in East Africa.

Special Economic Zone

The project also includes a 1700 ha special industrial zone. The special economic zone is funded by the Government of Tanzania and the State government reserve fund from Oman. The port is being constructed by China and the industrial zone will be constructed by Oman and administered by Export Processing Zone Authority of Tanzania. The industrial zone will also have rail links to the TAZARA Railway and Tanzanian Central Railway.