A port authority in Djibouti has announced that one of four new ports have been opened a move that is aimed at boosting the country’s position as a continental hub. The new mega port it said is able to handle $7 billion of goods a year.
Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority (DPFZA) said that Doraleh Multipurpose mega Port is one of four new ports in the Horn of Africa nation co-funded by China to establish Africa’s largest free-trade zone that can handle $7 billion of goods every year, a statement by the port authority said.
Djibouti mainly handles goods from Asia, representing nearly 60 percent of traffic, the statement said. In 2015, overall traffic to Djibouti increased 20 percent to 5.7 million tonnes.
Built on 690 hectare the Doraleh Multipurpose Port project has world-class facilities and equipment manufactured by Chinese firm ZPMC.
The bulk terminal of the Doraleh port can handle 2 million tonnes of cargo a year and offers space to store 100,000 tonnes of fertilizer, grains and warehouses for other goods, the statement added.
The break bulk terminal can also handle 6 million tonnes of cargo per year with 40,000 slots for vehicles at the RO-RO terminal.
“With this new world-class infrastructure, Djibouti confirms its position as a major trading hub for the continent. We are proud to show the world our capacity to deliver major infrastructure projects – some of the most technologically advanced on this continent,”
Aboubaker Omar Hadi, chairman of the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority (DPFZA) said at the opening ceremony on Wednesday attended by Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh and Somali President Mohammed Abdullahi
The $590 million Doraleh Multipurpose Port project which started construction in 2015 was jointly financed by Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority (DPFZA) and China Merchant Holding (CMHC) to connect Asia, Africa and Europe.
Djibouti hosts a US and French naval bases. China is also building a naval base in the country.
The port at a glance:
Total investment-over U$ 59m (Phase 1 & 2)
- 15 berths of 1200 m long and 16-18 m water depth
- 690 hectares of total land area
- 23 hectares for Containers Terminal
- 57 hectares for General Cargo Yard
- 20 hectares for Bulk Terminal
- 15 hectares for Vehicles Yard
- 35000m2 storage area for solid fuels, Steam Coal,Pet Coke…
- Warehouses
- Accommodating for Capesize vessels (Up to 100,000 DWT)
- Total capacity: 8,779,000 Tons / year