https://www.businessincameroon.com/transport/1303-8936-kribi-deep-water-port-lowers-service-costs-by-20-30-to-attract-more-operatorsKribi deep-water port lowers service costs by 20-30% to attract more operators
(Business in Cameroon) - The Autonomous Port of Kribi (PAK), the public company which manages the deep-water port of Kribi commissioned March 2, 2018, in the southern region of Cameroon, announced it is reducing the costs of its services by 20 to 30%, to attract as many economic operators as possible.
The announcement was made by MD Patrice Melom, on 7 March 2019 in Douala, during a meeting with members of the Cameroon employers group (Gicam). Price reduction concerned towage and boatage, scanning and handling services, which are all reduced by 20%, compared to 30% for the port fees of ships operating at the container terminal.
With a container terminal of 315 m docks, ceded to the Franco-Chinese consortium Bolloré-CHEC-CMA CGM, and a 265 m multipurpose terminal, operated under the direction of the Cameroonian KPMO consortium, the deepwater port of Kribi officially claimed a traffic volume of 6.4 million tons, for 264 ship calls, between its commissioning on 2 March and 31 December 2018.
With its 16-metre draught, this port infrastructure is presented by experts as one of the most strategic on the entire West African coast. Second phase of construction involves the construction of a second container terminal, with 750 meters of docks, and two other mineral and hydrocarbon terminals.
It should be noted that '...two other mineral ... terminals' mentioned above would of course be the Sundance soutthern Iron ore deposit and the Canyon bauxite deposit (there are only two potentially commercial mineral deposits in Cameroon at this point in history) . Also worth noting that Bollore, the french rail operator that operates Camrail, the Cameroonian rail system, is intrinsically involved with the Kribi port operation in collaboration with the Chinese who are building the final road/rail corridor down to Kribi. Bollore are of course the rail operator of the existing rail system that passes the Canyon deposits. That existing rail system is currently sadly underutilised and I am sure Camrail would like to welcome a new client shipping as much bauxite as possible down to port.
Rail right down the middle when everyone confirms terms and conditions. IMO, it's all coming together nicely,
