ZANZIBAR, June 3 -- ZANZIBAR has received its first large international oil tanker carrying petrol, diesel and jet fuel directly from Saudi Arabia, marking a major milestone in efforts to strengthen energy security and modernise the islands maritime infrastructure.

The vessel docked at the new Mangapwani Integrated Port, a 300 million US dollar (about 783bn/-) mega-project under construction on the north-west coast of Unguja, about 25 kilometres from Stone Town. The facility is designed to ease pressure on the ageing Malindi Port and position Zanzibar as a regional logistics and energy hub in East Africa.

The Mangapwani project includes berths for liquid bulk cargo, container handling, fishing vessels, offshore gas services and maintena...