Sapro's 44.4 Billion XAF Investment Pledges Transformative Development at Douala Port

SLC is the Cameroonian subsidiary of the Sapro group, founded by Congolese billionaire Paul Obambi, who also serves as the CEO of SLC.

The project will be implemented across two sites with a total area of 15 hectares, comprising a logistics zone of 5 hectares and a truck parking area of 10 hectares. The logistics zone will feature a loading and unloading dock, railway tracks, a large-capacity modular metal warehouse, container storage areas, and wide circulation lanes (over 12 meters) for enhanced mobility of vehicles. The truck waiting area will include a parking area with a capacity for 621 semi-trailers and 30 truck tractors.{loadmoduleid 377}

The living area will encompass an administrative building, a hotel, an infirmary, a mini-market, a mosque, a cafeteria, light vehicle parking spaces, a police station, and a mini-wastewater treatment plant.

The project, scheduled to start at an undisclosed date, will be executed in Build-Operate-and-Transfer (BOT) mode, with a projected timeline of three years. Sapro Logistics Cameroon is expected to invest the required 44.4 billion CFA francs (excluding taxes) for the project without the endorsement or guarantee of PAD and the State of Cameroon. Subsequently, PAD's partner will operate the infrastructure for 21 years, with a project Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 185.1% over 24 years.

The initiative, anticipated to generate 250 direct jobs and approximately 800 indirect jobs, aims to alleviate congestion on access roads to the port, where trucks are continuously parked for the transportation of goods. Additionally, it aims to provide storage and logistical management solutions for various pre-and post-shipment operations related to imports and exports, according to PAD. Cyrus Ngo'o, the Director-General of PAD, emphasizes that the development of a logistics zone and a truck parking area downstream of the port is among the priority projects outlined in the master development plan for the port by 2050. This aligns with the ambitious program for the renovation and modernization of port facilities and equipment.{loadmoduleid 378}