(Business in Cameroon) - A consortium of 9 port sector operators (APM, 2M, Transimex, Sapem, 3T Cameroun, Cam-Transit, Copem, STAR et GOS ) which account for 75% of the merchandise handled at the port of Douala, KPMO is poised to win the multipurpose terminal concession at the Kribi deep water port currently being built in the South region.

In a release published by the Cameroonian government on November 5, 2014, in which three companies were shortlisted for pre-qualification talks, KPMO has teamed up with the French company, Necotrans to land the multipurpose concession.

To win their first port concession in Cameroon, Necotrans and KPMO will have to vanquish the Danish company, APM Terminals and the Philippines’ ICTSI, two heavyweights who, in terms of merit, are ahead of the Necotrans-KPMO duo in the bidding process for expressions of interest. It should also be noted that APM Terminals and ICTSI are also in the ring for the container terminal concession at the same port in a face-off against the Bolloré group.

According to reliable sources, KPMO plans to join the capital of the company to be created for the container terminal concession at the Kribi deep water port independently of its more explicit intentions for the multi-purpose terminal. Insider sources suggest that the Cameroonian government supports this effort, having expressly mandated that the chosen concessionaire of the Kribi container terminal opens 20% of the capital to Cameroonian operators.