CMA CGM consortium wins coveted Kribi concession

With this, vessels from all companies, up to 8,000 teu, will be able to call at the container terminal, which has a capacity of 1.4 million teu. When completed, it will feature a 700m wharf and a 32-hectare platform made with a 16m draught.

“We would like to thank the Government of Cameroon for the transparent selection of our offer, which provided the best financial and technical guarantees,” said Farid T Salem, group executive officer, CMA CGM.

The terminal is ideally located in Cameroon – a growing market – and is expected to become a regional hub for the African-Atlantic coast, from Senegal to Gabon. Large capacity vessels will call at the port from both the European and Asian markets. The consortium says it will therefore be able to supply countries without maritime access, like Tchad and Central African Republic.

“CMA CGM and its partners will make Kribi container terminal an international terminal which will bring dynamism to the Cameroonian economy. With this new terminal, Cameroon will be at the heart of international trade,” Mr Salem added.

CMA CGM, which has been present in Africa since 2001, says this move will significantly strengthen its African footprint. In 2006, the Group acquired the African maritime transport expert, DELMAS, and is now a leading transport company in the region, carrying more than 1.2 million containers in 2014 to and from Africa.