Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has
congratulated stakeholders involved in the work undertaken to complete Phase 1
of the Lae Port (Tidal Basin Project).
O'Neill said Phase 1 of the project was delivered ahead of time and under budget and that cabinet has also approved the start of Phase 2.
He said the opening of Phase 1 of the new port in the Lae Tidal Basin was a very important occasion for the country.
“This is another demonstration of our ability as a country, as a government, as a community and as people to deliver world class infrastructure,” O’Neill said.
“As many of you know, our government has made infrastructure development a priority, and this is another major piece of our national infrastructure that will serve the people of Papua New Guinea.”
O’Neill said the port would benefit not only the people of Morobe, it would also serve people in the Highland provinces who get their goods freighted to the port then up to the highlands by road.
He said landowners of the tidal basin would also benefit through opportunities such as stevedoring as did landowners of the old port, and more broadly thousands of additional jobs would be created.
“When fully operational, this port will create new jobs and related opportunities for over 5,000 people - with projections of this reaching 10,000 as port business increases in the coming years.”
Currently around 55 vessels call into Lae port each month and this will increase substantially with the wharf extension, generating increased revenue through pilotage, wharfage and berthage revenue streams. This means more larger vessels, heavier machinery and increased throughput to meet the growing economy in the country as well as the Asia/Pacific region.
The trade forecast for the coming year is for the movement of over:
- 130,000 containers for international shipping.
- Over 56,000 domestic containers.
- Break-bulk and Liquid Bulk movement to be over one million
revenue tonnes.
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