(Business in Cameroon) - The Autonomous Port of Kribi (PAK), the public company which manages the deep-water port of Kribi commissioned March 2, 2018, in the southern region of Cameroon, announced it is reducing the costs of its services by 20 to 30%, to attract as many economic operators as possible.

The announcement was made by MD Patrice Melom, on 7 March 2019 in Douala, during a meeting with members of the Cameroon employers group (Gicam). Price reduction concerned towage and boatage, scanning and handling services, which are all reduced by 20%, compared to 30% for the port fees of ships operating at the container terminal.

With a container terminal of 315 m docks, ceded to the Franco-Chinese consortium Bolloré-CHEC-CMA CGM, and a 265 m multipurpose terminal, operated under the direction of the Cameroonian KPMO consortium, the deepwater port of Kribi officially claimed a traffic volume of 6.4 million tons, for 264 ship calls, between its commissioning on 2 March and 31 December 2018.

With its 16-metre draught, this port infrastructure is presented by experts as one of the most strategic on the entire West African coast. Second phase of construction involves the construction of a second container terminal, with 750 meters of docks, and two other mineral and hydrocarbon terminals.

Brice R. Mbodiam