Plans to build a deepwater harbour

The Mozambican government, in concert with a private company, is reportedly planning to build a deepwater harbour in Ponta Dobelo, south of the capital, Maputo, at an estimated cost of US $515 million, news reports said Thursday. According to the reports, the development will also include an industrial park on about 20,000 hectares of land. Environmental groups have condemned the plan as a threat to the sensitive maritime ecology. An environmental activist was quoted as saying such a harbour and the associated sea traffic could damage coral reefs and beaches where turtles lay their eggs.