AD Ports awards crane contracts worth Dhs420m for Africa operations

Image: AD Ports Group

AD Ports Group has signed contracts worth over Dhs420m with Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC) for the supply of 23 new cranes.

The equipment, including six ship-to-shore (STS) cranes and 17 hybrid rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes, will be deployed at its terminal projects in Pointe Noire, Republic of the Congo, and Luanda, Angola.

The contracts align with AD Ports Group’s broader strategy to enhance infrastructure in emerging markets as part of its 30-year concession agreement for developing a multipurpose terminal at Pointe Noire Port, and a 20-year agreement to modernise the Luanda Terminal.

The Pointe Noire and Luanda terminals will each receive three Super Post-Panamax STS cranes, capable of reaching up to 21 container rows, or 60 meters.

Additionally, Pointe Noire will be equipped with nine hybrid RTGs, while Luanda will receive eight.

These hybrid RTGs are designed to be more environmentally friendly, reducing diesel consumption by up to 60 per cent, which translates to saving approximately one million liters of diesel and cutting down around 5,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

Equipment crucial to modernising port operations, says AD Ports

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, MD and group CEO of AD Ports Group, commented, “We are pleased to advance our concession agreements in Angola and Congo. These cranes are crucial for modernising port operations. In line with our leadership’s vision to boost trade and investment, we are committed to investing in advanced technologies to enhance value for our customers and support the economies we operate in.”

Ruikai You, party secretary and chairman of ZMPC, remarked, “As the global leader in STS cranes and port equipment, ZMPC is proud to extend our multi-year partnership with AD Ports Group. We look forward to supplying state-of-the-art Super Post-Panamax STS cranes for their expansion into Africa.”

In June 2023, AD Ports Group finalised a 30-year concession with the Republic of the Congo for managing and operating the New East Mole Terminal in Pointe-Noire, with a projected investment of $500m. This terminal will handle various cargo types, including containers and breakbulk.

In April 2024, AD Ports Group also secured a 20-year (extendable by 10 years) concession agreement with the Luanda Port Authority for upgrading and operating the Luanda multipurpose port terminal.

The group has pledged over $250m for modernisation, potentially increasing to $379m, depending on market demand over the concession period.

These agreements underscore AD Ports Group’s commitment to expanding its international footprint, improving global supply chain efficiency, and offering diversified logistics solutions to strategic partners.

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