The Port Authority of Douala (PAD) has officially launched expansion works of the Port of Douala-Bonabéri container terminal. Part of a vast programme to rehabilitate, modernise and develop the Container Terminal and bring it up to international industry standards, the foundation stone for the extension works was laid in Douala on Friday, July 11 by the Minister of Minister of Transport Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe.
A presidential promise, the strategic project aims to significantly boost the port’s operational capacities with the construction of a fourth container terminal worth over FCFA 47B entirely financed by Société de Construction et d’Exploitation du Port de Douala-Bonabéri (P17-SCEPDB), as part of a public-private partnership (PPP).
The laying of the foundation stone for the extension of the Douala-Bonabéri port container terminal paves the way for start of a transformative infrastructure upgrade. The project aims to triple the port’s container handling capacity by 2030, significantly boosting efficiency, competitiveness, and economic growth in the central African region.
The ceremony brought together government officials, security forces, municipal leaders, and traditional chiefs from the Sawa land, who offered blessings for the project’s success.
“The port is a very important sector in the Cameroon transport network,” Minister Ngalle Bibehe emphasized. “The Head of State is fulfilling his promise of making this sector a reference point in the region”, the Transport boss added.
The expansion project is a direct response to both the promise of President Paul Biya and the growing expectations of the port’s users, Cyrus Ngo’o, General Manager of PAD stated.
“Today’s event is in line with the government’s sectoral policy to strengthen the port industry, consistent with the vision expressed by the Head of State during his speech in Douala on October 6, 2011, in which he set a clear course: to make the Port of Douala-Bonabéri a modern, competitive port and a catalyst for national development”, Cyrus Ngo’o said.
Upon completion of the fourth container terminal, the General Manager said, the port will be able to receive more ships and accommodate more containers, in its drive to maintain its position as port of reference in the Gulf of Guinea.
Since Cameroon took control of the facility with the creation of the Douala Port Container Terminal (RTC S.A.) five years ago, significant progress has been made in infrastructure development and the enhancement of local expertise, setting the stage for this ambitious expansion.
NEGRI to lead construction
The project will be executed by NEGRI, a trusted partner with a proven track record of delivering key projects at the port. Stéphane Delaplace, General Manager of NEGRI, assured stakeholders: “All necessary measures have been put in place for the project to be realized within the stipulated time frames.”
NEGRI was selected following a rigorous process that began in June 2021 following a tender that eight firms bided.
The project was then submitted for review to the Port of Douala’s Advisory Steering Committee, which issued a favorable opinion on February 14, 2022. Following this approval, the partner proceeded to create a project company called the Douala Bonabéri Port Construction and Operations Company.
An agreement was then negotiated between the parties, authorizing the financing, construction, and operation of the infrastructure planned as part of the project, within the container terminal. This, official said, is a public-private partnership (PPP), in which financing is entirely the responsibility of the developer, without any guarantee or surety from the PAD or the State.
Expansion to unfold in three key phases
According to documents from the maritime facility, the project will be carried out in three phases. The first phase will consist the construction of a 250-meter-long quay and development of nearly eight hectares of quayside surface, enhancing docking and cargo handling capacity.
Then, the building of a Roll-On/Roll-Off (Ro-Ro) berth to accelerate vehicle loading and unloading, streamlining operations for automotive and heavy equipment shipments will follow.
The third and last phase will be the extension of 1,200 meters of Rubber-Tyred Gantry (RTG) crane tracks to improve container movement efficiency within the terminal.
The entire project is slated for completion within 30 months, after which the port’s capacity will increase to handle one million containers annually.
Strategic importance for Cameroon, central Africa
This expansion aligns perfectly with President Biya’s vision to position the Port of Douala-Bonabéri as a flagship maritime hub in the sub-region, capable of handling the growing volumes of international trade. The enhanced port infrastructure will not only serve Cameroon’s economic interests but also bolster trade logistics across central Africa.
As construction begins, the port is poised to become more competitive and better equipped to meet the demands of regional maritime logistics, driving sustainable economic growth and reinforcing Cameroon’s role as a pivotal trade nexus.
To note that the laying of the foundation stone for the expansion of the Douala-Bonaberi Port Terminal comes as construction works are ongoing on the new state-of-the-art headquarters of RTC S.A following the laying of the foundation stone three months ago.
First published in NewsWatch newspaper No 213 of Monday, July 14, 2025.
