DP World and the government of Senegal have signed a concession agreement for the development of a deep-water port at Ndayane to increase the country’s status as a major logistics hub and gateway to West and North-West Africa.
The deal will be worth $837 million in the first phase and $290 million in the second, and be DP World’s biggest port investment in Africa. It is in addition to an existing agreement for the Port of Dakar, for which DP World is building a new container terminal.
Phase 1 will include a new container terminal with 840m of quay and a new 5km marine channel designed to handle 366m vessels and capable of handling the largest container vessels in the world.
Phase 2 will create 410m of additional container quay and a further dredging of the marine channel to handle 400m vessels.
The first phase of the Ndayane Container terminal will be operated alongside the existing DP World Dakar container terminal. The container terminal will eventually have over 3 km of quay and 300 ha for the container yard.
This will enable the existing Port of Dakar to be redeveloped into a mixed use residential and commercial waterfront and cruise terminal.
DP World is also planning to develop a special economic zone next to the Port of Ndayane to further strengthen the attractiveness of Senegal to foreign investors looking at the Ecowas region.
Cheikh Kante, Minister of State, Special Envoy to the President, said: “The development of the new port at Ndayane will enable Senegal to maintain its position as the maritime gateway to the region and play a significant contribution towards the realisation of H.E. Maky Sall’s vision for an Emergent Senegal.”
Alioune Ndoye, Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Economy, also commented: “The Port of Ndayane, a major component of the port platform, gives our country back its leadership position thanks to its comparative advantages unlike any other in the sub-region. This port will be a powerful lever for growth, as a central link in the logistics chain, in line with the vision that his Excellency, The President of the Republic Macky Sall has set out in the plan Senegal Emergent (PSE) to make our country an integrated and competitive logistics hub.”
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, said: “This will be DP World’s biggest port investment in Africa to date, and is a testament to our commitment to Senegal and belief in its potential for further economic growth.
“The new port will create jobs, attract new foreign direct investment to the country, and enable new trading opportunities that bring about economic diversification. I would like to thank His Excellency President Macky Sall, for his leadership and vision for the development of the port, and for partnering with us on this exciting project.”
