Developers flag deadline worries at key port project

August 11, 2008 | 17:37

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Port developers are warning of construction delays at port projects in Cai Mep-Thi Vai area, which is set to become the country’s most important port complex.

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The complex is being built to replace Ho Chi Minh City’s ports, which have been overloaded and handle 70 per cent of Vietnam’s container volume. During recent meetings with ministries of Planning and Investment (MPI) and Transport and Ba Ria-Vung Tau province representatives, developers said the slow construction pace of road No 965 linking the port complex with national road 51 was a big obstacle to building the ports. A SSA Port representative said the road was crucial to the project’s success.

The representative said the road’s construction should be immediately started so more of the landfill and terminal construction could be done from the landside. Due to the slow pace of road, construction at some of these terminals, including landfill, must to be done from the waterside.

SSA Port has completed about 85 per cent of construction, but the remaining 15 per cent needs to be done from landside. Other ports like Cai Mep Gemadept Terminal Link has yet to start construction. Although the government is determined to develop the port complex, road No 965’s construction was contingent upon Japanese ODA funding which fell behind schedule.

A Ba Ria-Vung Tau province source said the province would use $60 million from its budget for the road’s construction which planned to start next month and finish by October, 2010. However, he revealed that the construction plan could be delayed because the province had not found contractors for the project.

The province has granted investment certificates for five ports in the area, worth about $1.7 billion. These ports, once completed, will handle about 40 per cent of goods imported and exported in the southern region. Developers plan to put the ports into operation in 2009 and 2010.

By Mai Linh

vir.com.vn

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