Ports investor China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) is China’s contributor to an international consortium planning to put US$1 billion into creating a new port in Mozambique, according to Mozambican newspaper Savana.

The new facility would be in Maputo province and would serve Mozambique and neighbouring countries – including South Africa – the newspaper said, as quoted by online news portal Macauhub.

The online media also quoted the Mozambican weekly newspaper as saying the port might “somewhat ease the pressure on the port of Maputo and offer more competitive options for access to international markets by some southern African countries”.

The project would include a 3.5-kilometre-long access channel for shipping, and an industrial free trade zone, according to the news report.

The consortium is led by Mozambican company Bela Vista Holdings and includes South African public rail, port and pipeline company Transnet, in addition to CHEC, Macauhub said.

The report stated CHEC is already in charge of construction for a new port in the city of Beira in Mozambique. The work began in September, 2015.