Maputo, Mozambique, 1 July – Portuguese construction company Teixeira Duarte is this week due to start refurbishment work on the jetties of Maputo and Catembe, two projects funded by the World Bank, according to a report in Mozambican newspaper Notícias.

The paper said that the work, estimated to cost 71 million meticais (US$3 million), is due to be concluded in the first half of 2009.

The refurbishment project also includes remodelling the terminal buildings and the water and electricity supply.

Work was last done on the jetties in 1997.

The project was granted to Teixeira Duarte, in a public tender that was launched in June and July of last year.

The jetties are used by ferries transporting passengers between Maputo and Catembe.

In 2007 the governments of Mozambique and China agreed to study the possibility of Chinese funding for building a bridge to link Maputo and Catembe.

Travelling by road between Maputo and Catembe takes around two hours.