Africa-Press – Angola. The United Arab Emirates company “ADP – Abu Dhabi Ports” will explore the management of the multipurpose terminal at the Port of Luanda over the next 20 years, as a result of a concession agreement signed this Tuesday, in the Angolan capital.
With Abu Dhabi Ports, the Luanda Port Authority, Unicargas and Multiparques were signatories to the agreement.
The Arab group acquired 81% of the capital of the joint-venture company that will manage the terminal, as well as 90% of the rights to modernize the operational air facilities, with a view to leveraging the growth and importance of logistics activity in Angola.
To this end, ADP – Abu Dhabi Ports has 251 million dollars available to invest in this modernization project, in this terminal which until now has been operated by Unicargas, in close cooperation with Multiparques.
Under the terms of the concession contract, this joint venture is responsible for modernizing the multipurpose facilities and transforming them into a container and Ro-Ro terminal (the process of loading and unloading various goods on cargo ships), covering an estimated concession area of 192 thousand square meters.
Specifically, this involves an improved quay wall, additional ship-to-shore cranes, gantry cranes, increased draft (9.5 to 16 meters), modern technological systems, among other state-of-the-art equipment.
Still within the framework of the agreements, the renovation of the terminal is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2026.
In this phase, operational capacity will be increased, with a container handling volume of 25,000 TEUs to 350,000 TEUs, and Ro-Ro volumes to more than 40 thousand vehicles.
During the first three years, its renovation will be carried out, the terminal’s containers will be moved to a nearby pier, while excess volumes will be transferred to the Multiparques facilities, in Viana.
On the occasion, the Minister of Transport, Ricardo D’Abreu, considered the Port of Luanda as a critical center for regional trade and the economic vitality of the country and its neighbors.
“This strategic partnership with AD Ports will significantly improve logistics capabilities and stimulate economic growth across the entire central and western region of the African continent,” he said.
The coordinator of the Unicargas Management Committee, Joaquim da Piedade, who also signed for Angola, said the partnership was a transformative opportunity to leverage global knowledge and resources.
Likewise, to accelerate the modernization and expansion of the Port of Luanda and its logistics infrastructure.
In turn, the general director of this Arab group, MohamedJuma Al Shamisi, stressed that the signed protocols comply with the Framework Agreement initialed, in 2023, between the institution he heads and the Government of Angola, in the presence of the Minister of State for Business Foreigners, Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan Al Nahyan.
According to the Arab businessman, the multifunctional terminal will be modernized to attract the operations of the main global shipping companies and to offer the highest levels of efficiency and quality of service.
“It will be a benefit for both nations and all other parties involved, particularly customers”, he assured.
For the regional director of the United Arab Emirates group, Mohamed Eidha Tannaf AlMenhali, these agreements only materialize the start of operations.
“Angola is a very important partner for our group,” he stated.
He said that AD Ports will work with local management, Unicargas and Multiparques to leverage knowledge and capabilities to ensure a smooth transition and bring new growth and business development opportunities to Angola.
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