AD Ports, CMA CGM establish partnership for Pointe Noire Terminal operation

AD Ports Group has signed a shareholders’ agreement with the CMA CGM Group through its subsidiary CMA Terminals.

This agreement establishes a joint venture to develop, manage, and operate the New East Mole multipurpose terminal in Pointe Noire, Congo-Brazzaville. AD Ports Group had secured a 30-year extendable concession for the terminal in June 2023.

Under the joint venture, which will be majority-owned by AD Ports Group, the New East Mole multipurpose terminal at the Port of Pointe Noire will handle a variety of cargo, including containers, general cargo, and break-bulk. The port is the largest Atlantic gateway in the Central West African nation.

When securing the concession, AD Ports Group estimated an investment of approximately US$220 million for Phase 1 of the project. This phase includes the construction of a 400-metre quay wall with a depth of 16 metres, along with a 100,000 m² logistics area.

Mohamed Eidha Al Menhali, Regional CEO, of AD Ports Group, mentioned: “This agreement further enhances our strategic partnership with CMA CGM in several markets and projects along global trade lines, the latest of which was the inauguration of CMA Terminals Khalifa Port last December. Our collaboration at the port of Pointe Noire is a continuation of this association. We look forward to jointly developing and managing phase 1 of the New East Mole multipurpose terminal with the CMA CGM Group. We believe this partnership will position the Republic of Congo at the centre of maritime trade, in line with projections for annual growth of 3% to 5% in container volumes forecast for the country over the medium term.”

Following the inauguration of CMA Terminals Khalifa Port in December, this latest agreement further strengthens the collaboration between the two companies. The US$845 million container terminal is set to expand Khalifa Port’s container capacity by 33%, adding 2.6 million TEUs to the existing 7.8 million TEUs.

Moreover, in the Republic of Congo, CMA CGM is the market leader in exports and holds the second-largest position in imports and transhipment, with a historical container volume market share of approximately 35%.

The joint venture has confirmed that the New East Mole multipurpose terminal will operate as a multi-user facility. AD Ports Group will retain a controlling majority in both management and operations, ensuring full consolidation of the terminal’s activities under its oversight.

Christine Cabau Woehrel, Executive Vice President for Assets and Operations, CMA CGM Group, said: “Our investment with AD Ports Group at the Port of Pointe Noire is a new milestone of our strategic collaboration between CMA Terminals and AD Ports Group as we enable modern, sustainable ports and maritime infrastructure for the next wave of global trade. The multipurpose terminal is set to become a hub for trade and commerce in the region, enhancing job creation, providing knowledge transfer and connecting Congo-Brazzaville to global markets.”

The New East Mole multipurpose terminal at the Port of Pointe Noire has already placed an order for three state-of-the-art Super Post-Panamax Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes, representing the latest advancements in high-performance port equipment.

In addition, the terminal will be equipped with nine hybrid Rubber-Tyred Gantry Cranes (RTGs) and extra handling equipment. These hybrid RTGs provide substantial environmental benefits by reducing diesel consumption by up to 60%, which translates to an annual savings of approximately 1 million litres of diesel. This reduction is expected to lower CO2 emissions by around 5,000 tonnes, supporting Congo-Brazzaville’s sustainability objectives and minimizing the terminal’s carbon footprint.

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