BANANA, DRC: March 25, 2018. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has awarded DP World a 30-year concession to build the country’s first deep-sea port on its 37 kilometres coastline.

The first phase, opening in 2020 at an estimated cost of US$350 million, will include a 600-meter quay and 25-hectare yard extension with a container capacity of 350,000 TEU and 1.5 million tons for general cargo.

DP World has signed a 70:30 joint venture agreement with the DRC government at a total project cost of US$1 billion over four phases that will give the country direct access to world trade lanes for the first time.

According to Jose Makila Sumanda, DRC vice prime minister and minister of Transport and Communications, the country has been waiting for its own deep-sea port for a long time in order to reduce its dependency on neighboring countries.

“We are excited to partner with DP World on this landmark project. The Port of Banana will offer the first deep-water port to the Democratic Republic of the Congo that will dramatically improve the cost and time of trade as the majority of the cargo is still handled by neighboring countries,” he said.

DP World chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem added: “Investment in this deep-water port will have a major impact on the country’s trade with significant cost and time savings, attracting more direct calls from larger vessels from Asia and Europe, and ultimately acting as a catalyst for the growth of the country and the region’s economy.”

(Pictured left to right: DP World chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem and Jose Makila Sumanda, DRC vice prime minister and minister of Transport and Communications, at the signing of the Port of Banana concession.)