Côte d’Ivoire Terminal (CIT), Abidjan’s second container terminal and APM Terminal’s joint venture facility, is preparing for its grand opening. The new terminal has just received 6 Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes and 7 rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes from ZPMC. This was the last delivery of equipment before the terminal goes live, which is expected in November 2022.
The new, fully electric equipment arrived in Abidjan on a semi-submersible vessel and is expected to significantly reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions of the facility compared to a terminal running on diesel equipment. Thanks to a total investment of 262 billion CFA Francs (approx. 400 million Euro), CIT will, once completed, be equipped with 6 STS cranes, 13 RTG cranes and 36 tractors – all electric. This is fully aligned with APM Terminals’ ambition to achieve net zero emissions by 2040 and a 70% emission reduction by 2030. As the next step, the terminal is also investigating the switch to green sources of electricity to power the equipment.
“The arrival of this equipment marks an important milestone for of our second container terminal, with the progress of the development of the container fleet estimated today at 95%. Arrival and commissioning of this equipment was the last element we were waiting for before we can start the operational testing phase”, said Koen De Backker, Managing Director of Côte d’Ivoire Terminal.
The new terminal aims to improve logistics services in Côte d’Ivoire and the countries of the sub-region and is expected to generate 450 direct and thousands of indirect jobs. It will contribute to development of skills and to training of young Ivorians in port operations and handling of next-generation equipment.
“We are pleased and proud to receive the latest gantries for container handling at Côte d’Ivoire Terminal. The arrival of these handling machines marks an important step in the finalization of the construction of the 2nd container terminal of the port of Abidjan. This project renews the Ivorian government’s commitment to the development of port infrastructure in Côte d’Ivoire and the increase of trade in the sub-region,” said Hien Yacouba Sié, Director General of the Port Autonome d’Abidjan.
