Kalemie Industrial Port Expansion Begins: $70M Project to Enhance DRC-Tanzania Trade Links
Preparatory work has commenced on the future industrial port of Kalemie, a $70 million project aimed at strengthening trade between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Tanzania.
The project is being led by the consortium Jintai Mining PTE Ltd and Tembo Majengo Company SARL, which signed a contract with Kinshasa in April. The consortium has begun establishing a base camp on a 40-hectare site in Mutowa, approximately 30 kilometers from Kalemie. This camp will accommodate staff and equipment for the construction phase.
The first phase of the port is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026. A second phase will expand the port’s capacity to handle 2 million tonnes of goods annually, enhancing the provincial economy and positioning Kalemie as a strategic hub on the Central Corridor linking the DRC to Tanzania.
On August 15, Tanganyika Governor Christian Kitungwa, accompanied by a Transport Ministry delegation, inspected the site.
He pledged close oversight to ensure smooth progress, stating: “All the necessary steps have been taken. Daily follow-up will continue until delivery.”
The port project is part of Tanganyika Province’s broader multimodal development strategy, which also includes oil terminals, shopping centers, and supporting infrastructure, according to the governor’s office.
Kalemie’s location on Lake Tanganyika connects the DRC to key regional ports, including Bujumbura in Burundi, Mpulungu in Zambia, and Kigoma in Tanzania.
Official data shows that in 2021, the port handled approximately 60,000 tonnes of imports, compared with 2,400 tonnes of coltan exports.
