In brief
- DP World announced on 29 March 2023 that development of an edible oil terminal at Berbera had started, with a long-term lease already agreed.
- The announcement states the terminal will service vessels with a draught of up to 16 metres and will start with 18,000 tonnes of storage.
- The announcement is a development notice, so it does not confirm completion, commissioning or delivered prices.
Contents
DP World reported on 29 March 2023 that it had kicked off development of a new edible oil terminal at the Port of Berbera in Somaliland, with a long-term lease already agreed for the facility. The announcement described the terminal as an addition to Berbera's trade ecosystem and set out its planned physical and commercial scope.
What the source records
DP World states that the terminal will initially have a storage capacity of 18,000 tonnes, to be expanded as demand grows. It states that the terminal will service vessels with a draught of up to 16 metres, which it says would let Berbera handle bulk imports of edible oil for the first time. The first phase is described as fully leased on a long-term basis to Mzahim Investment LLC, a subsidiary of Essa Al Ghurair Investments of the UAE, which will also develop a local packaging plant in Berbera that could employ up to 100 people. The same announcement notes the Berbera Economic Zone, 15 km from the port along the Berbera to Wajaale road. Read the full notice from DP World.
What it means on site
A declared 16 m draught sets the marine envelope that the berth, approach channel and turning area are being designed around, and 18,000 tonnes of initial storage sets the tank farm and pipeline scale that follows. For a contractor or supplier this is the point to ask about scope: berth strengthening, mooring and fendering, discharge lines, bunding and pump capacity. Whether the berth, channel and approaches at Berbera can actually receive that draught is a question for the port's marine department and the project engineer, and should be confirmed against the current drawings and survey, not the announcement.
What the source does not establish
This is a development announcement dated 29 March 2023. It reports a start and a lease, not completion, commissioning or throughput. The 16 m draught, 18,000 tonnes and 100 jobs are stated plans and capacities, and the source claims affordability benefits that no completed facility has yet demonstrated. It gives no construction programme, contractor, cost, or berth drawing. The record that would confirm the present state is the terminal's as-built and commissioning documentation held by the port authority and DP World Berbera.
What to do next
Ask DP World's Berbera port office for the current project status and, if work is tendered, the scope drawings showing berth depth, mooring layout and tank farm footprint. Confirm the permitted draught with the harbour master before fixing vessel nominations.
Frequently asked questions
What draught will the Berbera edible oil terminal handle?
DP World's 29 March 2023 announcement states the terminal will service vessels with a draught of up to 16 metres. Confirm the permitted draught with the harbour master before fixing vessel nominations.
Who will operate the terminal?
The announcement says the initial phase is fully leased long-term to Mzahim Investment LLC, a subsidiary of Essa Al Ghurair Investments, which will also develop a packaging plant in Berbera.
Sources
Local reporting: this article is written for building work in Berbera and Somaliland. Ground conditions, prices and rules differ between places; confirm the details for your own site.