Two of the world’s largest port operators, APM Terminals and Bolloré Ports have joined forces to build the Côte d’Ivoire Terminal (CIT), Abidjan’s second container terminal, which is expected to be operational at the end of 2021.
Following the signing of the contract with the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) in August, construction works have now officially begun in Côte d’Ivoire, which is an interesting market for both regional imports and exports.
Located adjacent to the existing Abidjan Terminal and operated in the future by a joint venture between Bolloré Ports and APM Terminals, the new facility will enhance the competitiveness of the port in the Ivoirian capital with the addition of 1.2 million TEU in annual throughput capacity in its first phase of development, which is expected to be finalised by the end of 2021.
Once completed, CIT will have a 1,100m quay equipped with ship-to-shore (STS) cranes, while there will be a rail yard with two tracks of 300m each and the port will offer reefer plugs for up to 1,100 containers.
With an area of 375 000m2, CIT will offer greater capacity for handling of goods at the port of Abidjan and improve the flow of the country’s imports and exports.
With the additional capacity provided by CIT, the terminal and the Port of Abidjan will have the chance to break the local market limits and serve as a preferred gateway for neighbouring countries, which currently rely on less optimal routes due to capacity restrictions at local gateway terminals, such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
“Once CIT becomes operational, Abidjan will be the only Port in West Africa capable of handling large vessels of up to 14,000TEU and will therefore create an attractive value proposition for marine and landside customers, unlocking new opportunities”, comments David Skov, vice president, head of Africa and Middle East portfolio at APM Terminals.
The new terminal will also contribute to the development of local communities by generating 450 direct jobs, according to an announcement. It will also serve as a lever for the development of agricultural value chains and will notably benefit local cocoa, cashew and mango producers.
Well-connected with the Ivorian capital, the new terminal will be built in compliance with the most stringent environmental and societal standards, and will be labelled “Green Terminal”, as the only terminal facility in Sub-Saharan Africa, thanks to the deployment of equipment powered by green energy.
