The board of the Petroleum Bulk Procurement Agency (PBPA) has recommended that the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) explore the construction of fuel storage tanks at Mbamba Bay Port. The primary goal is to streamline the transportation of petroleum products to neighboring countries such as Malawi and Mozambique.

During a site visit of the 75.8 billion shilling project, the PBPA Board Chairman, Dr. Lutengano Mwakahesyakwa, on behalf of the board members, emphasized the significance of these tanks in facilitating the storage and transportation of fuel from Mtwara Port to neighboring countries via Lake Nyasa.

Dr. Mwakahesyakwa stressed the importance of TPA prioritizing the construction of these fuel storage tanks to boost the country's revenue and support oil companies in securing storage facilities for exports to neighboring countries.

The PBPA had previously submitted proposals for the construction of these tanks, and the board expressed disappointment that construction had not yet commenced.

Gilbert Jungulu, the Petroleum Planning Manager, explained that the presence of these tanks would attract oil companies to store fuel for export to neighboring countries, generating revenue for the authority. TPA's role would then shift to storage, leading to substantial income.

The Member of Parliament for Nyasa, Engineer Stella Manyanya, commended the PBPA board for identifying the opportunity to construct the tanks at the port, as it would contribute to increasing national revenue and the income of Nyasa district residents. She pledged her full support to ensure the successful completion of the project.

The Manager of Lake Nyasa Ports, Manga Gasaya, thanked the board members for recognizing the importance of expanding the project to include the construction of tanks. He assured them that he would present these recommendations to the relevant authorities and emphasized that there was still time to incorporate the construction into the existing port project.

The resident engineer of the project, Agathon Mwenda, outlined the scope of the project, which includes the construction of two berths, warehouses, staff quarters, an administration building, a passenger terminal, a garage, a water tank tower, and a health facility. The project will also involve the construction of internal and external roads for vehicle access to and from the port, a 105-meter-long and 15-meter-wide bridge for cargo vehicles, and a storage area for 3,000 cargo containers.

The construction of the new state-of-the-art Mbamba Bay Port, located on the shores of Lake Nyasa in Nyasa District, Ruvuma Region, is expected to be completed in January 2026. The project is being undertaken by Xiamen Ongoing Construction Group Limited, with Anova Consult serving as the consultant.