Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan to launch 'super port' project

[blackstars25]

Kenya, South Sudan and Ethiopia have launched a controversial development project to build a port, oil refinery and rail network near the UN heritage-site island of Lamu.

Political leaders from the three countries gathered in Kenya's mainland Lamu district on Friday to launch the $25bn project that is expected to become a vital transport and economic development corridor for the region.

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki hosted South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir and Meles Zenawi, the Ethiopian Prime Minister, at an inauguration ceremony in Mokowe on the Indian Ocean coast.

Al Jazeera's Nazanine Moshiri, reporting from Mokowe, said: "This is a massive project, the first of its kind here in Kenya. All three countries say that they will share the cost, and there are reports that the Chinese will contribute.

"But it is very difficult to see how they will be able to share so much money in such a short space of time."

The project envisions 32 port berths connected to the region by thousands of kilometres of new rail tracks and a pipeline delivering South Sudanese oil to the new refinery.

Our correspondent added: "They key to all of this for South Sudan is the oil pipeline of more than a thousand kilometres, which would solve the problem of how to get its crude oil out to the international community.

"The railway network, which will connect South Sudan and Kenya and also connect Kenya to Ethiopia, will boost the economy and create jobs."

Local concerns

While Kenya describes the project as the most ambitious ever undertaken by any independent African country, Lamu residents fear the sheer scope of the project will affect their livelihood.

The local community are deeply concerned because they fear that they are not being compensated for the project and they say that they are going to loose out on tourism and fishing that generates most of the income in the coastal town.

"There will be an over-exploitation of resources without proper mitigation measures in place," said Atwaa Salim Mohamed of the Lamu Marine Conservation Trust.

"We'll be losing a certain percentage of our mangroves. We'll be losing a certain percentage of our coral reefs, and we'll be losing our pristine beaches to some extent, and also the fishing and breeding grounds for turtles."

There are also fears the project could affect Lamu town whose ancient Swahili architecture is listed as a world heritage site by the UN's UNESCO cultural body.

The project will have to overcome possible threats from bandits in northern Kenya and al-Shabab fighters operating close to Lamu in nearby Somalia, as well as from pirates preying on the region's maritime traffic.

Sad to see Somalia is missing out on the action, we have a comparative advantage for transit and shipping in East Africa.

[Eaglehawk]

Jubaland & NFD the future is yours take it

[Lamagoodle]

Jubaland & NFD the future is yours take it

Care to explain?

[Estarix]

Cut off from the seas and landlocked Ethiopia knows it cant rely on Somali states such as Djibouti or Somaliland when problems such as the Ogaden conflict exists, also the rise of a future Somali state in the south is inevitable. Hence why their massively investing on an reliable alternative.
Imagine a hypothetical situation where a hostile Somalia and eritrea denies the ports in the horn. This is why a port in Kenya fits the bill.

[blackstars25]

Cut off from the seas and landlocked Ethiopia knows it cant rely on Somali states such as Djibouti or Somaliland when problems such as the Ogaden conflict exists, also the rise of a future Somali state in the south is inevitable. Hence why their massively investing on an reliable alternative.
Imagine a hypothetical situation where a hostile Somalia and eritrea denies the ports in the horn. This is why a port in Kenya fits the bill.

What do you mean rise of a Somali state in south is inevitable?

It is true Ethiopia is making sound judgement, but just saying Somali's missing out on lots of $$ because of their barbaric ways.

[Estarix]

Cut off from the seas and landlocked Ethiopia knows it cant rely on Somali states such as Djibouti or Somaliland when problems such as the Ogaden conflict exists, also the rise of a future Somali state in the south is inevitable. Hence why their massively investing on an reliable alternative.
Imagine a hypothetical situation where a hostile Somalia and eritrea denies the ports in the horn. This is why a port in Kenya fits the bill.

What do you mean rise of a Somali state in south is inevitable?

It is true Ethiopia is making sound judgement, but just saying Somali's missing out on lots of $$ because of their barbaric ways.

How are Somalis missing out on cash, in fact this initiative is causing Ethiopia and South Sudan to lose money for long term gain.
Somalia already has 4 main and large ports, what exactly is it missing out on. This Lamu port benefits the two landlocked countries (dont have a port) Ethiopia and South Sudan.

[blackstars25]

How are Somalis missing out on cash, in fact this initiative is causing Ethiopia and South Sudan to lose money for long term gain.
Somalia already has 4 main and large ports, what exactly is it missing out on. This Lamu port benefits the two landlocked countries (dont have a port) Ethiopia and South Sudan.

If Somalia was a stable country, both South Sudan and Ethiopia would have invested in building a port in Somalia's long coast line or used/upgraded one of the existing ones.

Anyway, Somalia's ports are in dismal condition and are in no way suitable for large scale commercial purposes.

[Estarix]

How are Somalis missing out on cash, in fact this initiative is causing Ethiopia and South Sudan to lose money for long term gain.
Somalia already has 4 main and large ports, what exactly is it missing out on. This Lamu port benefits the two landlocked countries (dont have a port) Ethiopia and South Sudan.

If Somalia was a stable country, both South Sudan and Ethiopia would have invested in building a port in Somalia's long coast line or used/upgraded one of the existing ones.

Anyway, Somalia's ports are in dismal condition and are in no way suitable for large scale commercial purposes.

Upgdrade Somalia's ports.
Okay.

[Adali]

Kenya's Mombasa is already fighting a losing battle with Kismaayo, because all the towns and villages including main towns such as Garisa. Mandheere, Wajir and even as far as Nairobi are supplied with cheap products from Kismaayo, the only problem we have is lack of infrastructure, other than that the Kismaayo port customs is the cheapest in the entire horn which is why it gets to be extremely busy and thus brings in a healthy revenue.

Lamu will have better infrastructure and transport, it will be closer to Kismaayo but the price difference will always be there. Lamu port isn't a bad thing, It only means the land that my family owns in Lamu will triple in price. $$$$$$$$$