In brief
- On 30 May 2023, Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni inspected the Bossaso port expansion.
- Somali Dispatch reported that the first jetty is 70% complete and construction is 'progressing well'.
- The report does not establish what has happened since the inspection or clarify the relationship between DP World and P&O Ports.
On 31 May 2023, Somali Dispatch reported that Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni inspected the Port of Bossaso the previous day, where construction of the port expansion was under way. According to the report, President Deni was accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Urban Development and DP World, which Somali Dispatch describes as the company responsible for the port's management.
The report states that the port construction spans 450 metres, with the longest jetty measuring 150 metres and a width of 30 metres. Somali Dispatch reported that construction of the first jetty is currently 70% complete. The report also says an additional 215 metres will be constructed as part of the ongoing work, connecting it with the previous jetty.
Somali Dispatch outlined further planned elements: a 4,000-metre container section, a port cooler, an entrance and exit road, and a three-story building operated by state government agencies. The report notes that President Deni laid the foundation stone for the expansion on 24 January 2023.
The report does not establish what has happened since the May 2023 inspection. It states that construction was 'progressing well' at the time, but provides no current status update, no project cost, contract value, funding sources, or completion date. The report also does not reconcile two company names: it describes DP World as responsible for port management, yet refers to an agreement signed between P&O Ports and the government to enhance the port's construction. The relationship between DP World and P&O Ports is not clarified.
Somali Dispatch reported that President Deni has prioritised the development of Bossaso Port since assuming office and has worked towards implementing the P&O Ports agreement. No further evidence is provided about specific progress after the inspection.
Frequently asked questions
What expansion works have been completed at Bossaso port?
As of 31 May 2023, Somali Dispatch reported that construction of the first jetty is 70% complete. No later progress has been confirmed.
What is the overall planned expansion for Bossaso port?
The reported plan includes a 450-metre port construction, an additional 215 metres connecting to the previous jetty, a 4,000-metre container section, a port cooler, an entrance and exit road, and a three-story building.