Cameroon’s main port, the Port of Douala, is set for an upgrade after it signed a 30-year deal to design, build, and run a dry bulk terminal.
Africa Ports Development (APD) and its partner AD Ports Group from the United Arab Emirates will lead the project, with AD Ports holding the larger economic share in the operating company.
The deal marks a step in Douala’s development. In the first phase, the project will build two berths and a 450-metre quay wall with the capacity to handle up to four million tonnes of cargo each year.
The terminal will handle goods such as clinker, gypsum, fertiliser, and grain, backed by an investment of about 87 million dollars.
Construction is expected to start in 2026 and finish by 2028. The project could create around 4,000 direct and indirect jobs and support Douala’s role in Cameroon’s trade.
The port already handles about 85% of the country’s trade and serves as a transit point for landlocked countries like Chad and the Central African Republic.
For AD Ports Group, the deal reflects its growing involvement in African port projects. The company and two other investors from the UAE will hold 60% of the operating company, while APD will keep 40%. AD Ports will have an effective stake of 51%, giving it control over how the terminal is developed and run.
The new dry bulk deal follows a history of disputes around port concessions in Douala.
For instance, APM Terminals previously operated the container terminal, but disagreements over contract renewal and transparency led authorities to hand it over to Terminal International du Cameroun in 2020.
That situation showed tensions between foreign operators and the government, including concerns about how contracts were awarded and questions around national control.
There were also changes to earlier contracts for tug and pilotage services after complaints about inefficiency and political influence. These shifts have continued to show how important Douala is and what is at stake in managing it.
Looking at this history, the new dry bulk deal adds another chapter to Douala’s story, where foreign investment, local control, and economic interests meet.
The partnership between AD Ports and APD shows how Cameroon is working to balance outside investment with its own national priorities.
source: africaports.co.za
African Maritime Council