The Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) Corridor Project has received a major boost after the national government announced the allocation of US $88.4m to speed up the port construction.
According to, East Africa Community and Northern Corridor Development Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya, 50% of the work at the port has been done. However, the government is committed to ensuring the project is successful.
Mr Munya during his visit at the port site in Kililana, Lamu West said more money will be directed to the project from the September supplementary budget. Construction of the first three berths is ongoing, with the first berth expected to be ready by December this year. Munya added that the other two berths will be ready in two years, at a cost of US $476.9m.
“We are here to assess the progress of Lapsset and to iron out various issues, given that the project would be a game changer for Lamu County and Kenya. It is expected to grow the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by at least 3%, and will boost tourism, trade and local livelihood,” he said,
Employment
Lapsset Corridor Development Authority chairperson Francis Muthaura also said that the project will help tackle unemployment in Lamu. Already, 400 local youth have been trained on port operations in readiness for employment, in line with a scholarship programme launched by former President Mwai Kibaki targeting 1,000 youths.
Lapsset CEO Silvestre Kasuku added that the first ship could dock at the port by December this year when the first berth will be ready.The US $24.8bn project includes a 32-berth port; transportation hubs for rail, highway; international airports in Lamu, Isiolo and Lodwar; an oil pipeline from South Sudan connecting Uganda and Ethiopia; an oil refinery and three resort cities.
Extract from constructionreviewonline.com