The Port of Buchanan in Grand Bassa County is facing a critical threat as intensifying sea erosion threatens to destroy the entire facility if immediate action is not taken.
The Buchanan Port, which spans 16,000 acres and is the largest port in the country, has seen its major operations jeopardized by severe sea erosion.
During a weekend visit by the central administration of the National Port Authority (NPA), Director Jonathan Lambort Kaipay informed reporters that the entire coastal defense wall, erected decades ago, has been breached, allowing the encroaching sea to damage the main facility. The visit was led by the NPA’s Executive Director for Communications, Mr. Pewee Baysay.
Kaipay, a former Senator of Grand Bassa County, revealed that he has alerted the Legislature through the Liberian Senate to allocate funds for the construction of a robust coastal defense wall.
In an urgent plea, Mr. Kaipay urged the government to treat the situation at the port as a national emergency and to take immediate action.
Due to constant erosion, most recently in late May, properties have been destroyed at the port. This ongoing issue has also jeopardized potential investment plans by several companies.
“Sea erosion is affecting the entire Buchanan area, particularly this port,” Kaipay said. “The Senate is having a retreat here, and we thought it wise to reach out to them so they can see these challenges firsthand. We expect their visit tomorrow. My appeal is that they must treat this as a national emergency. We need to allocate funds in the budget for the coastal defense project to prevent further damage.”
“The port is crucial for the national recovery of our country. The opportunities for port users and future investments are at stake, so urgent action is necessary.”
Kaipay noted that constructing a comprehensive coastal defense for Buchanan would cost a little over $2 million, and even a little over $1 million would significantly help address the situation at the port.
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