Luanda, Jan. 30, 2025 (Lusa) - The AD Ports group, which on Thursday began port and logistics operations in Luanda, plans to invest up to $380 million (€365 million) in the operation if the concession is extended for 30 years, according to a company statement.
AD Ports, which is based in Abu Dhabi, began operations at the Port of Luanda, through which 76% of the country's cargo and containers pass, after signing a 20-year concession contract in April 2024 that foresees investments of around $250 million by 2026 with the aim of modernising the Noatum Ports terminal and developing Noatum Unicargas Logistics.
"In line with market demand, AD Ports Group's investment can be increased to up to 380 million dollars over the term of the concession, which can be extended for a further ten years," the company said.
The group's regional director Mohamed Eidha Al Menhali, quoted in the statement, said that AD Ports is strategically positioned to take advantage of the growth in container volumes in Angola, which is expected to increase by an average of 3.3% a year over the next decade.
In the last three years, AD Ports Group has expanded its presence in Africa by announcing investments of more than $800 million in the maritime and shipping, ports and logistics sectors in countries such as Egypt, the Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Angola.
AD Ports Group has an 81% stake in the Luanda multipurpose terminal project, with Angolan partners Unicargas and Multiparques, and a 90% stake in the logistics project, with Unicargas.
The Luanda terminal is to be modernised into one specialising in general cargo, containers and Ro-Ro (roll-on, roll-off) maritime transport; it will be the only one in the port of Luanda with a depth of 16 metres near the coast.
New container handling equipment will be installed by the third quarter of 2026, which will result in a significant increase in container capacity, from 25,000 TEU (twenty foot equivalent units) to 350,000 TEU, and in Ro-Ro volume, which will exceed 40,000 vehicles.
RCR/ARO // ARO.
Lusa
