Zanzibar Commences Groundbreaking $300 Million Mangapwani Integrated Port Project

Construction has officially commenced on the Mangapwani Integrated Port in North Unguja, Zanzibar, following a groundbreaking ceremony led by the President of Zanzibar, Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi. The project, valued at $300 million, is intended to address long-standing logistical bottlenecks and modernize the maritime infrastructure of the archipelago.

The new facility is engineered to accommodate modern container vessels with a capacity of up to 15,000 containers. Technical specifications indicate the port will feature a main berth 680 meters in length with a depth of 20 meters. This depth allows the facility to receive large-scale vessels of up to 200,000 tonnes, a capacity currently unmatched by existing ports in the East African region.

According to Mr. Ali Said Bakari, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works and Transport, the project officially entered the construction phase in late 2025. Completion is scheduled for September 2028. The site will eventually include three primary berths, including two additional berths between 217 and 220 meters long, specifically for vessels up to 30,000 tonnes.

A central component of the development is the integration of energy infrastructure directly into the port complex. A dedicated 200-megawatt power generation plant is being built on-site. This facility is expected to provide a reliable and uninterrupted electricity supply for at least 15 years, supporting both port operations and the local economy.

The government intends for the Mangapwani project to alleviate the heavy burden on Malindi Port. Built in 1920, Malindi Port has suffered from persistent congestion and limited equipment, which has historically increased turnaround times and inflated logistics costs for traders.

Beyond container handling, the integrated hub will include fuel storage facilities with a capacity exceeding 60 million liters. These reserves are designed to meet domestic demand for over three months, providing a buffer against price volatility and supply chain disruptions.

Strategic partnerships have been established to manage the specialized sections of the hub. One Petroleum Company is collaborating with the Zanzibar Ports Authority for oil and gas storage, while other infrastructure components involve firms such as Puma and Gapco.

The project aligns with the broader blue economy strategy championed by the government. By shifting commercial cargo and liquid bulk handling to Mangapwani, the authorities plan to repurpose the existing Malindi facility into a dedicated tourism and passenger port, further diversifying the economic base of the islands.