Ivory Coast Starts USD 962 Million Port Abidjan Upgrade

zoom Ivory Coast started on Tuesday a four-year, EUR 854 million (USD 962) project to add a second container terminal at the Port of Abidjan and extend the Vridi Canal, a key link connecting this West African shipping hub to the Atlantic, Frances Le Figaro reports. This is the biggest economic infrastructure project in Ivory Coast in the last five years, with 85% of the funds provided by Chinese investors, including loans from Chinas Eximbank. China Harbour Engineering Co. Ltd. was chosen as the general contractor for the projects. The second terminal will increase the Port of Abidjans annual capacity from 1.2 million to 3 million TEUs, turning it into one of the busiest sub-Saharan ports. A consortium comprising of two French groups, Bouygues and Bolloré Africa, and Dutch port operator APM Terminals, part of  Maersk Group, was granted the concession to build and operate the second terminal at the Port of Abidjan in March 2013. World Maritime News Staff