Africa’s northern shoreline is getting ever more significant port investment. APM Terminals announced plans yesterday for a new $858m transhipment terminal in Tangier, Morocco, in what will become Africa’s first automated terminal.
APM Terminals, part of the AP Moller-Maersk group, has a concession to operate the 5m teu terminal for 30 years. The company already has an existing terminal in the same Moroccan city.
“At a time when the container shipping industry is in crisis due to low global growth and too many vessels for too few goods to move it is important we are able to invest in bigger and more effective port facilities,” said APMT ceo Kim Fejfer.
“Significant investment in port and transportation infrastructure will be required to meet the anticipated needs of the expanding African population and corresponding economic growth,” APMT said in a release.
Elsewhere along the North African shoreline a number of mammoth port projects are scheduled. Near Algiers, a $3bn port has been tabled recently, while in Egypt plans are afoot to develop both Alexandria and Port Said.
