AD Ports expands in Angola: Abu Dhabi-based port operator AD Ports has secured a 20-year concession with Angola’s Luanda Port Authority to operate and upgrade the Luanda multipurpose port terminal, according to a press release yesterday. AD Ports’ concession at the terminal is extendable for a further 10-year period, the statement also said.

AD Ports also set up joint ventures with two Angola-based logistics and transport players to operate the terminal and serve the facility. The breakdown:

  • The company acquired an 81% stake in a JV with Multiparque to operate the terminal, with plans to use Multiparque’s Viana inland container depot for container handling during the period of redevelopment;
  • It also bought a 90% stake in a JV with Unicargas to provide logistics and freight forwarding services in Angola, with AD Ports subsidiary Noatum Logistics taking control of Unicargas’ fleet of trucks and logistics sites, while investing in new machinery and equipment.

The investment ticket: AD Ports will shell out USD 251 mn to modernize the terminal and develop logistics operations between 2025 and 2026, with investments potentially ramping up to USD 379 mn over the concession’s lifetime, depending on demand, the statement added. The redevelopment is set to be complete by 3Q 2026, with container handling volumes expected to rise to 350k TEUs, up from 25k TEUs currently, according to the statement.

About the Port of Luanda: The port handles over 76% of Angola’s container and general cargo volumes, and serves as one of Central-West Africa’s key transhipment hubs by enabling land-locked countries, including the DRC and Zambia, to access maritime trade. Angola’s container volumes are projected to see a 3.3% yearly growth over the next 10 years, the statement also said.

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