As part of efforts to increase the port efficiency in Takoradi, Ghanaian private investment company, Ibis Tek has begun moves to expand the port.
Figures available show that as at 2015, the port had a capacity of sixty-three thousand (63,000) Total Enclosed Units (TEUs) per annum.
This is expected to increase to between eight hundred thousand to one million (800,000 – 1,000,000) TEUs per annum when the project is completed in December 2020.
Speaking to Citi Business News on an onsite inspection of the project, Project Technical Consultant, James Owusu Koranteng expressed optimism that the project will increase business activities both in Takoradi and in West Africa.
“When the project is completed and the potential of Takoradi Port is met, it will bring in a lot of business for Takoradi, the Western Region and West Africa as a whole”.
Mr. Kronteng went on to explain the current capacity of the port and compared it to that of Tema which is far ahead.
“Takoradi port is doing only sixty-three thousand Total Enclosed Units (TEUs) per annum , Tema at the moment is doing between nine hundred thousand and close to a million, it creates a natural imbalance between the cargo distribution in Ghana. And this is because of the fact that Takoradi hasn’t gotten the marine and maritime capacity and capability because at present, the space that is being used on the Takoradi strip is just about some eighteen to twenty acres and the depth of water there that can take the ships is a maximum of 10.6. But nowadays, the ships that are being built draw as little as ten meters deep and that is why it is necessary for the ICD to come to its full capacity and for the potential of Takoradi Port and for that reason the Western Region to be realized” .
He added that Ibis Teks plans for the project will address the shortfalls of the port “Ibis Tek is now going to create this port which is going to be 16 meters deep with the container terminals with three hundred and sixty meter long vessels and also 14-meter deep cargo vessels. This will increase the capacity of the port and increase the cargo throughput and also bring business to Takoradi.”
The project will commence in the second quarter of 2018 and the total cost of the project is expected to amount to four hundred and twenty million dollars (USD428,000,000).
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By: Anita Arthur/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana
