Cameroon awards contract for multipurpose terminal in Kribi

Necotrans and local business consortium Kribi Port Multi Operators won the concession for the terminal, which is expected to handle vehicles, wood, cotton and equipment for the mineral, oil and gas industry.    On the heels of news about a concession being awarded for a new container terminal in Kribi, Cameroon, the Paris-based firm Necotrans and a consortium of nine local forwarders, maintenance and maritime agents called Kribi Port Multi Operators (KPMO), have been awarded the partnership contract for the operation and maintenance of a multipurpose terminal at the port.
   The multipurpose terminal is primarily expected to handle vehicles, wood, cotton and equipment for the mineral, oil and gas industry, along with materials used for the construction of the industrial zone and a future power plant adjacent to the Kribi port.
   The terminal will initially have a quay measuring 265 meters with two berths equipped with two cranes on rails and six truck mounted cranes.
   Necotrans said the official notification of the concession was published last week, but that precise terms of the contract remain to be discussed with the authorities in Cameroon.
   “Estimates point towards a concession of 20 years, investment of 26.2 million euros and licence fees paid to Cameroon by Necotrans and KPMO,” the company said in a statement.
   “We are particularly proud to have joined our colleagues from Cameroon in a win-win partnership, and to have gained the trust of the authorities in the country. Kribi is the only deep-water port in Central Africa, and as such is destined to become the economic driving force of Cameroon and the sub-region, especially Chad and Central Africa”, said Grégory Quérel, chairman of Necotrans.
   After a first phase of five years with activity estimated at 1.4 million tons of freight per year from the second year, the second phase of 15 years foresees the provision of an adjacent quay measuring 350 metres and complementary facilities and equipment for an activity that will surpass 3 million tons per year.
   “Our investment will enable us to increase the pace of handling and the storage zones so that Kribi can be as competitive as possible, complementing the port of Douala”, added Quérel.
   The company said the multipurpose terminal at Kribi will provide jobs for over 250 people.
   CMA CGM announced Monday it will team up with Bolloré African Logistics and China Harbour Engineering Company to build and operate a 1.4 million-TEU container terminal in Kribi.