Ports and Logistics

Egypt looking at linking the Mediterranean to Lake Victoria

Egypt, fresh from expanding the Suez Canal, is now eyeing developing the Nile River in a dramatic fashion, something that would astonish explorers from the Victorian age. The nation is to carry out a feasibility study to look at expanding the Nile, the world’s longest river, so that ships will be able to voyage from the Mediterranean all the way to Lake Victoria, a distance of some 4,000 km.

As well as looking at expanding the river Egypt is looking at creating a dedicated shipping line to serve this intra-African route.

The African Development Bank is stumping up $650,000 for the feasibility study.

Were the project to go ahead it could dramatically improve export channels for many countries, including Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.

The news comes at a time when a number of African countries are eyeing significant waterway upgrades: Zambia and Malawi pushing for a riverine link to the Indian Ocean via Mozambique and Swaziland even mulling a canal link to the same ocean.

 

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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