Laurels for Matadi Gateway Terminal
The Matadi Gateway Terminal (MGT), approximately 150 km upstream from the Atlantic on the Congo River, was recently cited as the best investment project in the infrastructure sector in the Democratic Republic (DR) of the Congo.
Thus, the Congolese unit of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (Ictsi) was awarded with the prix de reconnaissance aux investisseurs (investor recognition award) by the country’s agence nationale pour la promotion des investissements (national agency for investment promotion), which recognises investments that have contributed to the country’s economic growth.
MGT, a gateway to the Congolese capital Kinshasa, was designed, financed and put into operation by Ictsi in 2014 as one of the first multinationals in the country. The unit, with support from the DRC government, has a two-step plan in place to realise the strategic dredging of the Congo River up to a draft of 12.5 m – thereby opening the door to Panamax class vessel calls.
A third phase, under development, will further facilitate access for the slightly larger Wafmax vessels, which will require a draft of 14 m. To further accelerate the terminal’s improving turnaround times a third mobile harbour crane is now on order, providing the ability to turn a 2,500-teu capacity vessel in under 12 hours. (fd)