Tanzanian runs $80bn port project

Doha, Qatar. A Tanzanian civil engineer supervising a $80 billion port building project in Qatar attracted the attention of Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda and his delegates during their official tour of the country.

The project, which is funded by Qatar government, involves displacing seawater and channelling it to a desert area where the port is being built.

Mr Potty Msuku, who manages the project, said his key role was to ensure that the work was completed within the allocated time.

He said the harbour whose operations are scheduled next year has more than 10 landing sites.

“I thank God that we are progressing on well in accordance to our construction schedule…there is no doubt that we are going to complete the project within the allocated time since nothing is interfering with our schedule,” said Mr Msuku.

He said the project which was initiated by the government of Qatar was aimed at opening the business door between Qatar and other big nations, noting that upon its completion it will place Qatar in the list of nations with big harbours in the world.

The engineer added that the construction featuring companies from China, Belgium, Korea, Germany and Qatar commenced in 2011 and would be completed in 2016.

He also explained that the harbour is being built in phases, saying the coming phases will involve connecting it with the railway and airport which will be built at the nearby area for facilitating transportation.

“At the beginning we expect that the port will be capable of handling two million containers per day with possibilities to increase them overtime depending on the demand during a given time,” he elaborated.

While receiving the report on the construction, Mr Pinda expressed his appreciation of the project.

Mr Pinda concluded his tour by meeting Qatar businesspeople and briefing them on the various investment opportunities available in the country.