APMT inaugurates upgraded West Africa Container Terminal

APM Terminals has inaugurated the upgraded West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) at Onne Port, Rivers State, Nigeria. The project, which began in 2021, represents a US$115 million investment by APM Terminals.

The upgrade encompasses extensive yard expansion, as well as the acquisition of mobile harbour cranes (MHCs), rubber tire gantries (RTGs), and advanced cargo handling equipment (CHE) which is set to cut turnaround time at the terminal. The investment will also introduce an auto gate system and an advanced data centre.

APM Terminals said that the expanded yard space, which has almost doubled, will offer optimised container stacking, minimising the risk of collisions.

“State-of-the-art access control and CCTV systems create an unparalleled secure environment for cargo and personnel. The updated Traffic Management plan also contributes to a safer environment,” the company added.

As reported by WorldCargo News, earlier this year WACT opened a four-lane new in-gate facility and signed a Solar Lease Agreement with Starsight Energy, to provide an expected 1.2 gigawatt hours of solar electricity each year over 15 years. This project should replace 30% of the terminal’s electricity from diesel generators to renewable sources in 2024.

“This US$ 115 million investment is a bold statement of our faith in Nigeria’s economic potential. As Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation, Nigeria stands on the brink of remarkable growth,” Olaf Gelhausen, Chief Operating Officer of APM Terminals, said during the inauguration ceremony.

“The transformative upgrade project at WACT embodies APM Terminals’ vision of lifting standards in the industry. We’re enhancing capacity, redefining customer experience, and forging stronger partnerships with the Nigerian government to lift global trade.”

Nigeria’s Vice President Shettima, who inaugurated the terminal, said: “Nigeria is a country of significant opportunities. APM Terminals’ investment in WACT is a clear sign of the company’s strong commitment to developing ports that are a lifeline to global trade.”

Inauguration ceremony; Photo by: APM Terminals

APM Terminals has two container terminals in Nigeria in Lagos and Onne, handling about half of the containers going in and out of Nigeria. Strategically located within the Oil and Gas Free Zone, WACT serves as a vital gateway for trade in Eastern Nigeria. The terminal stands out as Nigeria’s first greenfield container terminal developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.

In addition, APM Terminals revealed that it has intensified talks with the Nigerian administration and port
authority to make its plans for future investments concrete. The terminal operator has proposed to invest more than US$ 500 million in expanding existing port infrastructure to accommodate more container shipping services and modernise port processes. The agreement was made on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth, and Energy for Development in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Nigerian government is also stepping up its investments in port infrastructure. In March this year, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) revealed a US$ 1 billion reconstruction plan for crucial port complexes, including Tincan Island, Apapa, Rivers, Onne, Warri, and Calabar. Additionally, funds have been allocated for the revitalisation of ports such as Badagry Deep Seaport, Snake Island, Burutu, and Ondo Deep Seaports under a new port development plan.