The Port of Pointe Noire Container Terminal has proceeded 1,003,734 TEU in 2021, exceeding the threshold of one million containers for the first time in its history.
Bolloré Ports, which holds 51% of Congo Terminal, the management company of the terminal, has set a modernisation plan for the Port of Pointe-Noire since 2009 and the latest container figures seem to reflect the efforts made by the French operator.
Another major global port/terminal operator, APM Terminals holds 22.5% of Congo Terminal management company, which was established in December 2008, when Bolloré Ports signed the 27-year concession for the Port of Pointe Noire Container Terminal.
“Now that we have crossed this symbolic threshold, our ambition is to become a transshipment hub to promote the development of the national economy and the sub-region but also a smart port concerned with the environment,” said Séraphin Bhalat, director of the Autonomous Port of Pointe-Noire.
During the last 13 years, Bolloré Ports has invested more than US$452.1 million to modernise the country’s container terminal, both in terms of infrastructure and equipment. These investments enabled the extension of the L and R berths to 1,500 linear meters and their depth increase to 15 meters. Additionally, Bolloré Ports’ investments have strengthened Congo Terminal’s equipment with six platform gantries and 18 park gantries.
During the last decade, the French port operator has also carried out development work by building storage areas, covering more than 320,000 usable square meters and a multimodal logistics zone of 45,000 square meters, connected to the Chemin de Fer Congo-Océan Company (CFCO) rail network.
Bolloré Ports has also acquired the ‘Navis 4’ operating system for the management and automation of Congo Terminal’s operations.
“Beyond the functional framework, we have chosen to extend our commitments to include all stakeholders through an ambitious corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy,” stated Anthony Samzu, general manager of Congo Terminal, who noted that this is evidenced by the creation of the Green Terminal by Bolloré Ports.