Construction works on the extension of the breakwaters of the Takoradi Harbour are to begin from September 28, this year. This follows the location of huge rock deposits in the Shama District that meet the specifications and quantities required for the extension, which is part of the multi-million dollar Takoradi Port expansion project. Currently, the contractors are stockpiling the boulders required for the project and at the same time carrying out other activities that will ensure that the works are completed on schedule. The Project Manager of Jan De Nul, the Belgium company working on the project, Mr Pascal Dumez, told the Daily Graphic that the quantity of boulders needed for the project was a little over 2.5 million tonnes. He said feasibility studies carried out at the sites of two quarry companies in the Shama District proved that there would be enough boulders to meet the requirement of the project. He explained that it was always better to ensure enough materials were stockpiled before work would begin. Mr Dumez said the first phase of the project involved the dredging of the access channel, the extension of the breakwater northward by 1.75 kilometres, the construction of bulk oil service terminal, the reclamation of a land area of 53,000 hectares, an open area for oil pipe, plant and machinery, as well as an access road to the port. He said the first phase would take three years to complete and the most important part — the extension of the breakwater — would cover a period of between 13 and 14 months, to be followed with other works within the port. Asked if there were some challenges that might pose any problems to smooth operations, Mr Dumez said all the hiccups had been taken care of and that work would progress without any difficulty.