Preliminary study on third harbour due in 10 months

A pre-feasibility study on the viability of building a harbour at Cape Fria along Namibia’s northern coast is expected to take another ten months.

It is being undertaken at a cost of N$1,3 million. At the request of DTA MP Johannes Gaseb, Minister of Works, Transport and Communication Moses Amweelo last week shed light on the project in the National Assembly.Amweelo told the House that the project fell within his Ministry’s ambit of developing the country’s infrastructure.The proposed harbour, he said, was intended to serve not only the fishing industry, but would be for the import and export of cargo, ore and minerals to and from other SADC countries.One of the objectives of the pre-feasibility study is to determine the scope of the feasibility study as well as the technical investigations and studies which will have to be carried out during the design phases.The pre-feasibility study is investigating the requirements of the fishing industry in terms of the exploitation of the northern seaboard and the processing of fish on land.Other aspects also being considered in the current study relate to the shipment of goods and the harbour’s connectivity to the region’s main transport network.The harbour will also be expected to be a tourist attraction and Amweelo said specialists were determining the infrastructure required to enhance its tourism potential.Sport fishing has been identified as a possible major attraction.Amweelo said on Thursday that the cost of a full feasibility study would only be determined once the preliminary studies had been finalised.According to the Minister, development partners had already shown an interest in financing the harbour.At the request of DTA MP Johannes Gaseb, Minister of Works, Transport and Communication Moses Amweelo last week shed light on the project in the National Assembly.Amweelo told the House that the project fell within his Ministry’s ambit of developing the country’s infrastructure.The proposed harbour, he said, was intended to serve not only the fishing industry, but would be for the import and export of cargo, ore and minerals to and from other SADC countries.One of the objectives of the pre-feasibility study is to determine the scope of the feasibility study as well as the technical investigations and studies which will have to be carried out during the design phases.The pre-feasibility study is investigating the requirements of the fishing industry in terms of the exploitation of the northern seaboard and the processing of fish on land.Other aspects also being considered in the current study relate to the shipment of goods and the harbour’s connectivity to the region’s main transport network.The harbour will also be expected to be a tourist attraction and Amweelo said specialists were determining the infrastructure required to enhance its tourism potential.Sport fishing has been identified as a possible major attraction.Amweelo said on Thursday that the cost of a full feasibility study would only be determined once the preliminary studies had been finalised.According to the Minister, development partners had already shown an interest in financing the harbour.