By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
AD Ports Group (ADX: ADPORTS), a leading global trade and logistics facilitator, has initiated its long-term management and development of a multipurpose terminal and associated logistics business in Luanda, Angola, in collaboration with local partners. This move marks a significant step in the group’s expansion into sub-Saharan Africa.
In partnership with Angolan joint venture partners Unicargas and Multiparques, AD Ports Group has begun operations at the Noatum Ports Luanda Terminal, situated in the country’s largest port. The Port of Luanda handles approximately 76% of Angola’s container and general cargo volumes, serving as a vital maritime gateway for landlocked neighbors, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia.
Mohamed Eidha Al Menhali, Regional CEO of AD Ports Group, stated, “With the planned upgrade of Luanda’s multipurpose port terminal and the establishment of an integrated logistics and freight forwarding business leveraging our group’s global network, AD Ports Group is well-positioned to capture the anticipated growth in Angola’s container volumes, projected to rise by an average of 3.3% annually over the next decade.”
Al Menhali stressed that this significant investment by AD Ports Group and its partners will strengthen Angola’s ties with the UAE and contribute to job creation and economic prosperity for the people of Angola.
Ricardo Daniel Sandão Queirós Viegas D’Abreu, Minister of Transport for Angola, highlighted the importance of the Port of Luanda as the country’s main maritime gateway and a critical hub for regional trade.
“Through our strategic partnership with AD Ports Group, we aim to transform the Port of Luanda into a modern and multifaceted facility, significantly enhancing our logistical capabilities and driving economic growth across the central and western regions of Africa,” he noted. “This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our mission to modernize infrastructure and expand access to global trade, promising a prosperous future for Angola and its partners.”
AD Ports Group holds an 81% stake in the multipurpose terminal venture with Unicargas and Multiparques, and a 90% stake in the logistics venture with Unicargas.
Under a 20-year concession agreement signed in April 2024 with the Luanda Port Authority, AD Ports Group is committed to investing approximately USD 250 million through 2026 to modernize the terminal and develop Noatum Unicargas Logistics, the joint venture offering integrated logistics, transport, and freight-forwarding services for local, regional, and international clients.
With the terminal’s opening, operations have commenced at Noatum Unicargas Logistics. The venture will make significant investments in new trucks and systems and will be fully integrated with the Noatum Logistics global network to enhance Angola’s access to international markets and promote investment-led growth in the Angolan economy.
In response to market demand, AD Ports Group’s investment could increase to USD 380 million over the life of the concession, which may be extended by an additional 10 years. In late 2024, AD Ports Group signed two agreements with the Angolan government that provide substantial tax and financial benefits to its operating subsidiaries.
These investments are expected to create thousands of local direct and indirect jobs, as well as provide training and upskilling opportunities. The planned investments will include equipment and technology solutions aimed at enabling environmentally sustainable operations with reduced carbon emissions.
Under AD Ports Group’s leadership, the Luanda port terminal will be significantly upgraded to accommodate general cargo, container, and roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) services. It will be the only terminal in the Port of Luanda with a depth of 16 meters alongside, capable of handling Super Post-Panamax vessels of up to 14,000 TEUs (Twenty Foot Equivalent Units). The terminal area of 192,000 square meters will be redesigned to support high-density and efficient container handling, equipped with state-of-the-art technology and modern IT systems.
AD Ports Group has expanded into Africa over the past three years, announcing more than USD 800 million in planned investments across the maritime, shipping, ports, and logistics sectors in Egypt, the Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Angola.
The decision to enter Angola followed the signing of a 2023 framework agreement between AD Ports Group and the Government of Angola to explore cooperation in transport and maritime infrastructure.
New container handling equipment is set to be installed by the third quarter of 2026, significantly boosting container capacity from 25,000 TEUs to 350,000 TEUs, and Ro-Ro volumes to over 40,000 vehicles. On September 11, 2024, AD Ports Group awarded contracts to Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co. Ltd (ZPMC), one of the largest port machinery manufacturers globally, to supply three Super Post-Panamax STS cranes and eight hybrid Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes for the Luanda terminal.
The Super Post-Panamax STS cranes are the largest port cranes available, capable of reaching 21 container rows and spanning a distance of 60 meters. Hybrid RTG cranes will reduce diesel consumption by up to 60% compared to traditional diesel RTG cranes, saving approximately 1 million liters of diesel annually and reducing CO2 emissions by 5,000 metric tons.
In the Angolan logistics venture, Noatum Unicargas Logistics will invest in new machinery, reefer and flat-bed trucks, and upgrade IT systems to ensure seamless integration across Noatum Logistics’ digital ecosystem, providing full end-to-end supply chain visibility and enhanced operational efficiency.
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