(Ecofin Agency) – Investments underway for several years have already made it possible to increase conventional freight volumes from 726 thousand tonnes in 2017 to 1.145 million tonnes in 2021, according to APM Terminals Monrovia.
The Liberian branch of the APM Terminals group has announced the acquisition of 2 new Liebherr 600 mobile port cranes and the completion of dredging works in the basin of the multipurpose terminal at the Port of Monrovia. The new equipment is intended for handling bulk goods, while the dredging has increased the terminal’s draft to 12.5 meters, allowing for the accommodation of larger vessels.
This investment is part of the terminal’s development program and aims to enhance the facility’s capacity to handle larger volumes within a reasonable timeframe. According to the operator, this is expected to help reduce the prices of imported goods in the market.
“This new equipment will significantly improve productivity and undoubtedly contribute to our ambitious effort to reaffirm the position of the Port of Monrovia as the gateway to Liberia’s economy and the Mano River Union,” said Samuel D. Tweah, the Liberian Minister of Finance.
It is worth noting that the dredging works in the terminal basin, budgeted at $6 million, were initiated in September 2022 with the goal of removing up to one million cubic meters of sand sediment to increase the draft, which was previously limited to 9.5 meters.