A view of ships moored in the harbour and container terminal in Luanda, capital city of Angola.
A view of ships moored in the harbour and container terminal in Luanda, capital city of Angola.
A view of ships moored in the harbour and container terminal in Luanda, capital city of Angola.
A view of ships moored in the harbour and container terminal in Luanda, capital city of Angola.

DP World in talks with Angola for Port of Luanda terminal concession


Deena Kamel
  • English
  • Arabic

DP World is in talks with Angola's government to operate the terminal in the Port of Luanda, as it continues to expand its footprint in Africa.

The Dubai-based company, which operates ports from Hong Kong to Chile, said on Monday it plans to invest $190 million into the multi-purpose terminal during the 20-year concession period.

It is aiming to increase annual throughput to about 700,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

"Angola’s location on the Atlantic ocean in southern Africa means it has the opportunity to benefit from flows of trade into the surrounding region," Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman and chief executive of DP World, said. “We believe in Angola’s strong potential for further economic growth."

DP World's plans in Angola come after it sealed its biggest port investment deal in Africa last week, with an agreement to develop Senegal's Ndayane deep-water port.

DP World has remained bullish on growth prospects in Africa, where it has existing investments in Egypt, Algeria, Djibouti, Rwanda, Somaliland, Mozambique and Senegal, according to its website. The ports operator has shown increasing interest in the continent despite a legal dispute over its operations in Djibouti.

DP World entered discussions with the Angolan government on the terminal operation agreement following an international tender process and the company's selection by an evaluation committee set up by the Angolan Ministry of Transport, it said.

This will be the first seaport terminal located on the western coast of southern Africa to be operated and managed by DP World.

The ports operator plans to upgrade the terminal's existing infrastructure and acquire new equipment, to bring operations in line with global standards and train existing staff, it said.

The terminal at the Port of Luanda handles containers and general cargo. It has a quay of 610 metres with a depth of 12.5 metres and a yard of 23 hectares.

Angola is the second-largest oil producer in Africa, after Nigeria. Its economy depends heavily on hydrocarbon production, making its economy vulnerable to oil price swings.

The Covid-19 pandemic and the shock from falling crude prices have put severe pressure on the country's economy, according to the International Monetary Fund.

In September, the Washington-based lender approved additional financial support to Angola to help mitigate the impact of the crises. The fund has provided $1 billion to Angola, bringing its total expected financial support to about $4.5bn under its three-year economic programme.

Angola's economy is expected to contract 4 per cent this year, according to IMF projections.

The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

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Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

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BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

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Price: From Dh650,000

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

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3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

The five pillars of Islam
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

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GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

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Usain Bolt's time for the 100m at major championships

2008 Beijing Olympics 9.69 seconds

2009 Berlin World Championships 9.58

2011 Daegu World Championships Disqualified

2012 London Olympics 9.63

2013 Moscow World Championships 9.77

2015 Beijing World Championships 9.79

2016 Rio Olympics 9.81

2017 London World Championships 9.95

War and the virus
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Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm

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Transmission: eight-speed auto

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Company%20profile
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COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Xpanceo

Started: 2018

Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov

Based: Dubai, UAE

Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality

Funding: $40 million

Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)

Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Rating: 2/5
 
RESULTS
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Analysis

Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.

The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement. 

We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment. 

 

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills