Construction of phase one of the new Southern African Development Community (SADC) Gateway Port at Walvis Bay will commence in 2014, reports namibiansun.com.
The estimated costs of the rest of the phases are about N$30 billion.
As the informante reports one of the main catalysts that spurred the fast tracking of such a new port is neighbouring Botswana which aims to export some 100 million tonnes of coal through this new port to India within the next decade.
The port of Walvis Bay, with its deep water depth and stable weather conditions, is strategically located to accelerate the growth of the SADC region as a whole by providing a good option of gateway for Southern Africa, hence costs and time savings are achieved along the Walvis Bay corridors by offering the shortest possible regional route on the west coast.
Ultimately, the development of the port of Walvis Bay and the Walvis Bay corridors is clearly an advantage to accelerate growth for Namibia and the SADC region by offering Southern Africa an alternative gateway.
[mappress]
Dredging Today Staff, July 11, 2013