The tender for upgrading Kigoma Port to a port of destination has been issued. Twenty-one companies have already expressed interest after the government re-advertised the tender.
The government re-advertised the tender in a bid to have a successful bidder who will conduct a feasibility study and detailed design as well as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). This is according to Deputy Minister of Works, Transport and Communications, Atashasta Nditiye.
On completion the Kigoma port will becomes the final destination for cargo from Burundi and Eastern DRC (Kigoma Port of Destination CIF Kigoma).
The government came to a decision to re-advertise the tender after nobody expressed interest in the earlier tender. It is expected that work will kick off soon once the best contractor has been identified.
Kigoma is one of the busiest ports located on the north eastern Lake Tanganyika. Nonetheless, the government has plans to create an economic zone at the port to stimulate trade as well as ensuring stable economic growth of the Port.
The port is also located close to the border with Burundi and The Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kigoma port currently serves as the capital for the surrounding Kigoma Region and has a population of 135,234 (2007 census) and an elevation of 775 m.
Kigoma port is the only port in Tanzania that has a functioning railway connection which is a direct link to the seaport at Dar-es-Salaam. Additionally, Kigoma Port in Kigoma Bay has a wharf of two hundred metres and several cranes and is also equipped to handle shipping containers.
