KENYA: Leaders launch Lamu port construction despite opposition from locals

Record ID: 362191

  • Title: KENYA: Leaders launch Lamu port construction despite opposition from locals
  • Date: 2nd March 2012
  • Summary: LAMU, KENYA (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FISHING BOATS DOCKED AT LAMU ISLAND VARIOUS OF FISHERMAN WITH MORNING CATCH VARIOUS OF TOURISTS AT LUXURY BEACH RESORT
  • Embargoed: 17th March 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya, Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Business,Industry
  • Reuters ID: LVASSUXTOF1UOT6KVYCU0TXFXV2
  • Story Text: Kenya launched the construction of a massive port and oil refinery on the Indian Ocean Island of Lamu on Friday (March 03), despite ongoing protests by locals who oppose the project.
    Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki marked the official start of construction with a groundbreaking ceremony held at the port site. He was flanked by Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and South Sudanese President Salva Kiir who flew in to show their support for the port, which will be linked to both countries via a new road and railway network.
    Kenya hopes the 24 billion US dollar project, due for completion in 2016, will transform the east African country into a regional economic hub and boost cross-border trade.
    Speaking to gathered delegates, Mwai Kibaki said the port was the start of an exciting new era for Kenya and neighbouring countries who will do everything they can to ensure the successful completion of the ambitious scheme.
    "As a region, we will continue to address the challenges we may face as we seek to transform our nations," Kibaki said, adding in reference to Somalia - Kenya's war torn neighbour: "We will continue to work with our neighbours to ensure we neutralise any security challenges to our development endeavors."
    Concerns have been raised among locals and security experts that the proposed site is a few hundred kilometers south of Kenya's border with war torn Somalia and a known launch point for pirate attacks.
    However on Friday (March 03), Kibaki said the infrastructure programme will bring economic benefits to communities living along the transport route, helping to stabilise the area and improve economic development.
    Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said the port is evidence his country and others in the region are serious about pulling themselves out of poverty.
    "We are coming together to dramatically improve our transportation network and it's historic because as countries struck by poverty and also often dependent on the benevolence of others, this project reflects our commitment to chartering our own economic development," President Zenawi said.
    As well as the 20-berth port costing an estimated 5.3 US dollars, there will be approximately 1,710km of railway lines between Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan and an 880km super highway connecting transport trucks to an enlarged airport on Lamu Island.
    Plans also include a 120,000 barrels per day refinery at Lamu. Kenya and South Sudan recently signed a deal to build a new pipeline to carry oil from South Sudan to Kenya's coast for export.
    Up until recently South Sudan's oil was transported through Sudan but a dispute over transit fees has temporarily shut down production in South Sudan and led the newly independent country looking for alternative means to transport its vast oil supplies.
    While Friday's ceremony officially launched the port's construction, protests by locals in Lamu could still delay construction or cause major disruption.
    Many on the island, a world heritage site, fear the arrival of huge ships and a vast new airport will cause irrevocable damage to the marine wildlife around the island and put tourists off from coming to visiting the island.
    The beaches surrounding Lamu and nearby islands are some of the best in Kenya and have been a major boom to the country's tourist industry for years.
    The mangrove and shallow depths surrounding Lamu are also known to be breeding ground for rare turtles and environmentalists have warned this could be destroyed if the port is allowed to go ahead.
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