The Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) has confirmed that construction of the new pier on Ilha da Inhaca is 99% complete, with the infrastructure scheduled for official inauguration this Friday.
Valued at $13.5 million, the project is largely financed by MPDC under its port concession framework and is being described as the longest pier structure of its kind globally, stretching approximately one kilometer into Maputo Bay.
Final Adjustments Before Opening
According to MPDC’s Director of Engineering, Narciso Chipole, the project has entered its final technical phase.
.The project is 99% complete. This week we are only carrying out final adjustments,” Chipole stated during a press visit
Current works focus on the treatment of expansion joints along the 353-meter access bridge — a critical step to ensure long-term structural durability and safety under varying tidal and load conditions.
Technical Specifications
Launched in November 2024, the new pier includes:
- Approximately 1 kilometer of docking structure
- 353 meters of road and pedestrian access bridge
- Four stairway connections
- Capability to dock vessels regardless of tidal conditions
- Capacity to allow the circulation of passengers and emergency vehicles up to five tonnes
The new installation replaces the former 120-meter pier, which had been closed since 2013 due to structural deterioration.
Construction is being executed by China Road and Bridge Corporation, with around 140 Mozambican workers employed during peak construction phases. Earlier engineering reports indicated that 225 tubular piles were driven to support the pier’s pillars, followed by concrete works and load capacity testing.
Strategic Importance for Tourism and Mobility
Located at the entrance of Maputo Bay, Inhaca Island — also known locally as KaNyaka — is one of the most important tourism destinations in Mozambique, attracting visitors for its beaches, marine biodiversity, and research facilities.
However, transportation limitations and tidal docking constraints have long restricted both tourism flows and local mobility. The new pier aims to resolve these bottlenecks by enabling safer, more consistent maritime access for residents, businesses, and tourists.
With a population of more than 6,000 inhabitants and administratively part of Maputo Municipality, the island relies heavily on maritime transport for goods, services, and emergency response.
Economic and Social Impact
The government believes the infrastructure will:
- Stimulate tourism growth
- Facilitate local commerce
- Strengthen scientific research activities in the region
- Improve emergency response capacity
The financing forms part of the extension of the Maputo Port concession until 2058. In addition to MPDC’s contribution, the project involves participation from Portos e Caminhos-de-Ferro de Moçambique and the national Transport and Communications Fund.
Importantly, the $13.5 million investment is separate from the broader $2 billion expansion plan for the Port of Maputo under the same concession agreement.
A Landmark Infrastructure Moment
Beyond its impressive length, the Inhaca pier symbolizes Mozambique’s broader push toward modern, climate-resilient infrastructure capable of supporting tourism, trade, and maritime connectivity.
If the official opening proceeds as scheduled, the structure will mark a significant milestone for coastal infrastructure development — potentially transforming access to one of the country’s most iconic island destinations. _vozafricano
relacioned: https://vozafricano.com/mozambique-plans-112-metal-bridges-under-nationwide-infrastructure-program/
