PAPN: Construction of Two Maritime Quays Progressing Perfectly and Could Be Completed by September 2024

In order to increase its ship reception capacity and maintain its leadership in Central Africa, the Port Autonome de Pointe-Noire (PAPN) has been undertaking the construction of two maritime quays on the eastern side of the existing port basin since 2021. An agreement was signed with the company RAZEL-BEC, which was awarded the contract for this project financed by the French Development Agency (AFD).

Begun in July 2021, the construction of these two infrastructures responds to the desire of the port authority to ensure that the PAPN meets the new requirements of maritime transport. Indeed, the aim of the port is to have, at the end of the work, a 250m long multi-bulk quay with a depth of 12.5m and a part deepened to -16m. This quay is intended to accommodate cereal ships and other bulk carriers, as well as mineral ships in anticipation of the resumption of activities in this economic sector. The second quay, called a 120m long multi-function quay, is an important component of the expansion of the PAPN.

It consists of a 50m x 16m dock for a boat lift, intended for the maintenance of fishing vessels and oil suppliers. Despite geotechnical difficulties that required additional resources and prompted RAZEL-BEC to modify its working methods, the work on these two quays is progressing perfectly, said Guillaume Thierry, the project director, and is currently 55% complete. Using state-of-the-art equipment and machinery, RAZEL-BEC plans to complete the work in September 2024.

To achieve this, the PAPN and RAZEL-BEC are working in perfect harmony with the project owner, the PAPN, which has proven technical expertise and with whom RAZEL-BEC maintains a permanent and constructive dialogue. The aim is to complete the project successfully so that the PAPN can take possession of the quays as soon as possible. The supervision of the works is carried out by the project manager EGIS.

These three actors, namely the PAPN, RAZEL-BEC and EGIS, are fully committed to delivering quality work to the PAPN. It should be noted that in order to meet the deadlines, two hundred workers, mainly Congolese, are working every day from morning to night to move this project forward to the great satisfaction of all parties, including the French Development Agency.

By Antoine Dustell Mbama, Correspondent of Maritimafrica in the Republic of Congo