According to French daily press, an unsuccessful bidder in the recent round of bidding for the second container terminal in Abidjan is contesting the concession granted to the consortium comprising of APM Terminals, Bollore and Bouyges.
The consortium was selected by the Port autonome d’Abidjan (PAA) to build and manage its second container terminal in late March, shortly after the port authority announced that it was the preferred bidder.
It was chosen over two other groups – Hanjin Shipping/TIL/MSC and ICTSI/NCT Necotrans/CMA CGM/Terminal Link/Movis.
French newspaper Libération reported that lawyers acting for CMA CGM have filed an appeal with the port authorities against the selection of the APM Terminals consortium for the second terminal, citing a monopoly. Bollore and APM Terminals already operate the first terminal at Abidjan through Societe d’exploitation du terminal de Vridi (SETV).
Jens Floe, ICTSI senior vice president Africa, said to Port Strategy: "ICTSI was, along with as far as we understand the rest of the bidders, surprised to see that PAA accepted a bid, which went against the written tender objective of creating competition when they accepted the bid from the existing operator. We have voiced our concern with the lack of following the tender and what we believe would be the best for the economy, importers and exporters of the country."
Meanwhile, PAA said to PS today that there is no "official information available" on whether an appeal has been received by the port authority at this time. CMA CGM declined to comment on the matter.
The new terminal is set to double capacity at the port - it should start operating in 2016 and handle 1.5m teu per year.
