• Douala Port signs $1.4B PPP deal for new wharf

• Mira Group to fully fund, build 1,500-meter multi-use terminal

• Project to ease congestion, boost CEMAC trade hub status
  

The Port Authority of Douala (PAD) and Mira S.A. Group signed a public-private partnership (PPP) agreement on Tuesday, November 4, for the construction of a 1,500-meter multi-purpose wharf. Signed by PAD Director General Cyrus Ngo’o and Mira Group CEO Ibrahim Mortada, the agreement aims to boost the port’s capacity.

The project, which follows 18 months of negotiations, will be fully financed by the Lebanese-Chinese consortium Mira Group, active in cement production, maritime transport, and logistics. The total investment of $1.4 billion (773 billion CFA francs) includes 560 billion CFA francs for the wharf and handling equipment, and 213 billion CFA francs for related works.

Infrastructure and Development Plans

The new facilities will comprise three specialized terminals, one for cement, one for butane, and one for general cargo; along with a 300-meter marina.

The deal also includes the construction of a three-kilometer bypass road, the development of 41 hectares for port and industrial activities, and continuous dredging to maintain a seven-meter draft. Dredging is critical, as the area is prone to silting.

The partnership projects an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 13.6% over a 30-year concession period. PAD estimates that construction will generate about 2,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Strategic Significance

For the port authority, the expansion is a strategic move to ease congestion at existing facilities and enhance the competitiveness of the Port of Douala. The port currently handles 85% of Cameroon’s national freight and is essential for supplying landlocked Chad and the Central African Republic.

Mira Group now has several months to secure financing and meet outstanding requirements before starting construction. The new wharf is expected to reshape Douala’s port landscape and strengthen its position as the leading logistics hub for the CEMAC zone (Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa).

Frédéric Nonos, Business in Cameroon