The Port of Djibouti on the Horn of Africa is a major transhipment port for the region. By 2017 a huge expansion program is supposed to be finalized
The port has greatly gained as a regional hub in the years 2012/13 thanks to an agreement with China[ds_preview] Merchant Holding International (MHCI) who took a share in the new cooperation Ports of Djibouti SA in January 2013. »This complements the cooperation with DP World«, explains Saad Omar Guelleh, general manager of the port. The government of Djibouti has opened new prospects for development of the country. Since 2011, it took over the management of the Djibouti Port and left Doraleh Container Terminal (DCT) to DP World to manage. The throughput of the port grew from 1.5mill. t in 2010 to 5mill. t at present. They decided to restructure the concept by developing the transhipment traffic of which more than 10mill. TEU are passing through the region but not to Djibouti. »Our challenge is to win these volumes in a five year plan whereby the new railway line Djibouti/Ethiopia will greatly help to reduce costs and improve traffic more efficiently at competitive prices«, Guelleh says.
The new port expansion program covers several facilities. The Doraleh Multipurpose Port (DMP) will contain four terminals for container, break bulk, bulk and a RoRo terminal for the handling of vehicles and rolling cargoes. The total operations area covers 690ha. The investment, jointly provided by Djibouti Port SA and China Merchant Holding (CMHC) will amount to 590mill. $. DMP is planned to take a lead to place Djibouti among its neighbours as a hub area for business in the East African and Red Sea region. According to the partners, it will have the most modern equipment and will be able to handle 100.000 dwt vessels.
The Port of Tadjourah is a new facility mainly for bulk commodities particularly potash which amounts to ca. 4mill. t per year The investment will be around 160mill. $. The first stage of the new Port of Tadjourah will become operational by March 2016.
As a new terminal for the export of salt from Lac Assal with a throughput of 6mill. t Port of Ghoubet will be constructed for 64mill. $. Operations will commence in December 2015 and it can accommodate vessels with a capacity of 100.000 dwt.
The important export of livestock-cattle, sheep, goats and camels will be handled at the new terminal Damerjog Livestock Port. It will be built with an investment of 70mill. $ and should start to operate as from the end of 2016.
Guelleh assumes that all of these measures will improve the position of the Port of Djibouti as the major regional hub in the area. The »COMESA Market« – the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa ranging vom Libya to Zimbabwe – covers a population in the neighbouring countries of 400mill. people. A new railway line to connect the Port of Djibouti will support the efforts of the port management. Already today a number of well established international shipping lines such as Ethiopian Shipping Line, Messina, PIL, MSC, CMA CGM etc. are using the port on a liner service basis.
All of the new investments will be added to the existing facilities such as the Doraleh Container Terminal (DCT), a joint venture between DP World and the Djibouti government. »We are on a good path and we have a great partner behind us, especially Ethiopia and all the other African countries. Djibouti is the Singapore of Africa«, Guelleh points out.
RD
