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KPA reports revenue loses of US$800,000 following three-day blackout
The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has reported losses of over $800,000 after a three-day blackout throughout many parts of the city of Mombasa brought port operations to a standstill.
Benard Osero, KPA’s head of corporate affairs, told the Kenyan Star that the power outage, caused by a fire at the Kenya Power and Lighting Kipevu power station, prevented the movement of the port’s giant gantry cranes and affected the recently commissioned berth number 19. At the height of the blackout as many as four vessels were waiting to berth at the container terminal.
“The cranes remained motionless for over 75 hours and no cargo was loaded or off-loaded from the container vessels,” said Osero.
“This caused heavy financial losses to the port estimated to be over $800,000.”
The power shortage also affected the port’s gate operations causing long queues of trucks waiting to enter and exit the port slowing the movement of cargo even further.
Osero, after issuing a report on the cost of the power shortage, told the Star that he hopes that a new power sub-station, scheduled for completion early next year, will address the power supply issues in Mombasa.
