A GREAT feeling of happiness and optimism overwhelmed residents of Ifakara and Mahenge districts as a foundation stone is laid for the construction of Kilombero bridge.
It was a dream come true for the farmers and businessmen and women of Ifakara and Mahenge districts in Morogoro, as President Jakaya Kikwete laid a foundation stone for the construction of the Kilombero bridge which will link the towns of Ifakara and Mahenge to unlock huge economic potential of the region.
The bridge will span 384 metres and will replace or at least complement existing ferry services which are unreliable and heavily weather-dependent.
According to designed plans two approach roads, one on the northern side, about 5 km and the other one on the South, 6 km will be improved into bitumen standard to ensure smooth traffic movement within the Kilombero river flood plain.
Analysts predict huge economic returns for the 56bn/- bridge whose construction plans are dated back in the 1960s where the government included ambitious plans to construct five major bridges in the first National Development Plan. Other bridges were Kirumi in Mara Region, Rufiji Bridge, Kigamboni and Malagarasi.
The Ifakara - Mahenge road forms a main link between Kilombero and Ulanga districts and it forms part of the proposed trunk road that joins Morogoro and Ruvuma regions. The road serves a large agricultural production area, which is famous for cultivation of food and cash crops.
The area is also important for teak plantation and natural forest products. In addition, the road is important for tourism activities as it serves the southern part of the Selous Game Reserve, which is located in Mahenge District.
It is expected that reliable crossing of the Kilombero River will also increase the number of tourists visiting the Selous Game Reserve.
The construction of the bridge is also good news for the Australian listed, Kibaran Resources Limited which is exploring for graphite in Epanko, Mahenge. Kibaran Resources Limited's Executive Director for Projects, Grant Pierce said, the company expected the bridge to allow for a substantial reduction in transport costs in the ongoing feasibility study.
"Completion of the Kilombero River Bridge will have a positive impact on the Epanko graphite project feasibility, improving logistics for transportation of goods and services to the project and ultimately final product to the port of Dar es Salaam," he is quoted as saying in an article by Proactive Investors.
"It will substantially reduce the construction time for Epanko, therefore providing a positive boost to the feasibility study through the logistical improvement in the transport of the graphite concentrate from project to port."
The cost of developing Epanko was put at US$ 56 million in a recent scoping study, a far cry from the billion dollar costs associated with the bulks and by no means a bridge too far for investors, even in the current climate.
Further benefit to the project is expected to come from Tanzania's ongoing rural electrification programme, which will extend the power line from the grid directly to the Epanko project itself and which also involves the construction of a new substation to improve power quality and reliability.
"Power supply from the main electricity grid will be the main long term power source for the mine, cheaper than self-generation and will eliminate the need to transport diesel for generators," said Grant.
Reduction in transport and energy costs are key items poised to further augment the robust economics of the Epanko development, following the recent release of the updated Scoping Study that has estimated capital expenditure at A$56 million.
Epanko is located in the wholly-owned Mahenge Graphite Project and currently hosts an Indicated and Inferred Resource of 22.7 million tonnes at 9.8 per cent TGC, for 2.223 million tonnes of contained graphite.
Importantly, the company has secured a guaranteed off-take for 10,000tpa with discussions underway with a major industrial group for a second off-take agreement for Epanko graphite.
