ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed Wednesday said that China will construct additional multipurpose berths at Gwadar port to make the deep sea port fully operational.
Replying to a question in the Senate, he said currently three berths were operational at the port.
In a written reply, Minister for Ports and Shipping Kamran Micheal says during the concession period, the Concession-Holder (COPHCL) will construct additional multipurpose berths on 3.2km (0.900m+2700m) seafront eastwards of the existing multipurpose terminal and 12 km long Container Terminal westwards and northwest of existing multipurpose terminal in the Concession Area. Outside the Concession Area, he says an LNG terminal is being constructed at Gwadar Port by Inter State Gas System and China Petroleum.
He adds work on the LNG is planned to start during first quarter of 2016. He said first phase of Gwadar Port was completed in 2005 with three multipurpose berths – each 200 meters long dredged to -14.5 m including one Roll-on-Roll off (RORO) facility and another 100 meter service berth. All these berths are fully operational. He said first expansion of the existing multipurpose terminal eastwards on 990 meters was planned in the second stage of Ferly Harvest Phase of China Pakistan Economic Corridor.
