AD Ports, CMA CGM expand terminal operations in Congo and Angola

CONGO – AD Ports Group and the CMA CGM Group have signed an agreement to jointly develop, manage, and operate the New East Mole multipurpose terminal at the Port of Pointe Noire in the Republic of the Congo.

The deal follows AD Ports Group’s receipt of a 30-year extendable concession for the terminal in June 2023.

The agreement establishes a joint venture, majority-owned by AD Ports Group, to oversee the terminal’s operations.

The facility will handle various types of cargo, including containers, general, and break-bulk shipments, reinforcing Pointe Noire’s status as the country’s major Atlantic port.

AD Ports Group had earlier announced plans to invest approximately US$220 million (AED 807 million) in the first phase of the project.

This investment includes the construction of a 400-meter quay wall at a depth of 16 meters and a 10-hectare logistics area.

The agreement strengthens the existing partnership between AD Ports Group and CMA CGM. Their collaboration was highlighted last December with the inauguration of CMA Terminals Khalifa Port, a US$845 million (AED 3.1 billion) facility.

The expansion is expected to increase Khalifa Port’s container capacity by 33 percent, adding 2.6 million TEUs in 2024.

Christine Cabau Woehrel, Executive Vice President of Assets and Operations at CMA CGM Group, stated that the investment in Pointe Noire marks an important step in their collaboration with AD Ports Group, improving port efficiency and supporting trade in the Republic of the Congo.

Mohamed Eidha Al Menhali, Regional CEO of AD Ports Group, noted that the project builds on their strategic cooperation with CMA CGM, positioning the Republic of Congo as a growing hub for maritime trade.

He highlighted the forecasted three-to-five percent annual growth in container volumes as a positive indicator of future trade opportunities.

The terminal has already placed an order for three super post-panamax ship-to-shore (STS) cranes, which represent the latest advancements in high-performance port equipment.

Expansion into Angola

In a related development, AD Ports Group has also begun operations at Noatum Ports Luanda Terminal in Angola. The project is part of a long-term partnership with local firms Unicargas and Multiparques.

The Port of Luanda handles around 76 percent of Angola’s container and general cargo volumes and serves as a key maritime gateway for neighboring landlocked countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia.

AD Ports Group holds an 81 percent stake in the multipurpose terminal venture and a 90 percent stake in the logistics venture.

The group signed a 20-year concession agreement with the Luanda Port Authority in April 2024, committing to invest approximately US$250 million by 2026 to modernize the terminal and establish Noatum Unicargas Logistics for regional and international clients.

The total investment could increase to US$380 million over the course of the concession, which has the potential for a 10-year extension.

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