DP World will benefit from a 10-year extension of its concession to the port of Luanda and plans to invest an additional $90 million over two years. The project must increase the terminal's theoretical capacity to 1.2 million 20-foot equivalents (TEUs), compared to the current 500,000.
DP World announced on October 6 the extension until 2051 of its concession for the operation of the multipurpose terminal of the port of Luanda, Angola. The operator, which has been on the site since 2021, is also planning an additional investment of $90 million over the next two years.
According to DP World, this funding is intended to extend the 222-metre wharf, increase the operating area from 27 to 37 hectares and increase the terminal's theoretical capacity to 1.2 million TEUs.
The programme also includes the acquisition of three porticoes of Ship-to-Shore, STS and 12 porticoes on semi-automated tires (Rubber-Tyred Gantry, RTG).
DP World states that this equipment will allow the terminal to simultaneously handle two Post-Panamax vessels. The operator also believes that the arrangements could reduce ship time by up to 50%. The length of the wharf would thus increase from 610 to 830 metres.
Since the beginning of its operation in 2021, DP World claims to have invested more than $260 million in the modernization of the terminal. According to the company, the containerized traffic handled on the site has increased from 177 000 TEUs to over 350 000 TEUs in five years.
This increase was accompanied by the addition of 28,000 m2 of container fleet. The terminal now has eight portable port cranes and 700 plugs for refrigerated containers, compared to 630 before.
The extension takes place in a context where the port of Luanda serves Angola's trade and part of Central Africa's trade flows. DP World believes that increased capacity and the possibility of hosting larger vessels could open up new maritime services.
The company also presents the project as a means of facilitating flows to markets in Central and West Africa. However, the announced effects on trade, investment and employment remain linked to the effective implementation of new infrastructure and equipment.
