Madi traditional dancers during the referendum at Dr John Garang Mousoleum in Juba, Southern Sudan,
One of the greatest economic gains Kenya is likely to get from an autonomous Southern Sudan, with a population of about 8.5 million people, is the market for the proposed Lamu port.
The port of Mombasa and the existing road and rail network cannot handle the massive volume and weight of materials that will be required for the Southern Sudan reconstruction, maritime experts say.
Although Southern Sudan has several options of seaports to choose from, consideration for the right choice will take into account factors such as security, number of borders to cross, nature of the terrain, length of route, and accessibility to the West and East by sea, says the second transport corridor inter-ministerial lead consultant Dr Mutule Kilonzo.
The Mombasa port has inadequate capacity to handle Southern Sudan cargo. The investment required to increase the capacity at the port and support infrastructure would be enormous.
“As it is, the port of Mombasa is struggling to keep up with the demands of its present clientele – Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Kenya,” Dr Kilonzo said.
A second option that has been considered is the port of Dar es Salaam.
A second option that has been considered is the port of Dar es Salaam.
This would involve goods transiting two countries, Tanzania and Uganda. Dar’s capacity to handle additional loads is also in question, according to the consultant.
But a new port at Lamu would offer the best option. The distance between Juba and Port Sudan in the North is about 4,000 kilometres, while the distance between Juba and Lamu is only 1,500 kilometres.
Southern Sudan is all set to become a major exporter of oil. Political and strategic imperatives rule out Southern Sudan’s sole dependence on Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast based on the history of the two countries, Dr Kilonzo said.
It is proposed that the Port of Lamu be made a free port which will be connected to the proposed Free Port at Dongo Kundu in Mombasa by a railway line and an access road.
“The free port will be a port in which goods can transit through or be stored for up to 5 years, without the complications of customs formalities. Southern Sudan and Ethiopia bound goods, as well as the exports from them, will require this expeditious utility,” says the consultant.
New generation vessels
With the feasibility studies of the second transport corridor expected to be ready by March this year, Lamu has many advantages as a potential alternative port to serve the sub-region as well.
It has a water depth of 18 metres making it ideal for fast construction. It also has a capacity to accommodate new generation vessels carrying over 10,000 Teus. Mombasa port can handle less than 3,000 Teus ships.
Other components of the second transport corridor include a superhighway that will connect Lamu to Addis Ababa and Juba. The three regions will also be connected with a standard gauge railway line to allow faster trains.
It is envisaged that a merchant oil refinery will be constructed in Lamu and will be connected by an oil pipeline to Juba to refine crude oil from Southern Sudan before shipment. An Optic fibre infrastructure to link the corridor will also be laid down.
International airports will also be constructed in Lamu, Isiolo and Lokichoggio, three important points along the corridor.
