Praia, Cape Verde, 15 Oct – A consortium of three Portuguese construction companies is already carrying out the second phase of work to expand and modernise the port of Praia, worth 72 million euros, following conclusion of the first part of the project Thursday.

The contract was signed at the end of August and the work by Somague, MSF Engenharia and Etermar began in September, and is due to be finished within 30 months.

The second phase – the first officially finished Thursday and was funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) with US$53 million – covers refurbishment of the existing dock, construction of a protective mantle for the container park and a 234 metre-long breakwater.

The project also includes extending the number 1 dock to around 450 metres, in order to make it possible for two container ships to manoeuvre more easily at the same time, regardless of movement of fuel ships at the end of the dock.

Dredging of the manoeuvre basin and installation of a navigational support system, as well as construction of the container park, are also part of the work now contracted.

The project to modernise and expand the port of Praia aims for the facility to have traffic of some 2 million tons of goods in 2030. (macauhub)