Tanzania will begin construction of the Bagamoyo port this December, ending a decade of delays caused by disputes over contract terms with foreign investors, local media reported.

The 10 billion US dollars deep-water facility is central to the country’s special economic zone initiative, which links industrial parks with rail and road infrastructure.

Located approximately 75 km north of Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo is planned to have 28 berths, with construction starting on 14 initially. Government spokesperson Gerson Msigwa said the port will reach a depth of 20 metres, capable of accommodating vessels larger than any other in eastern Africa, with a container capacity of 25,000 units.

The project was originally agreed in 2013 with China Merchants Holdings International and Oman’s State General Reserve Fund, but implementation stalled after the government rejected the initial terms. Following her election in 2021, President Samia Suluhu Hassan revived negotiations, allowing the construction to move forward.