Maersk seeks new African opportunities

The A.P. Moeller-Maersk group is exploring options to build and upgrade ports in Nigeria and Kenya, according to news reports.

The global news agency Bloomberg cited Lars Reno Jakobsen, the company's senior vice president for Africa, as saying that Maersk was awaiting a final sign-off on a contract to help build a new port in Badagry in Nigeria's southern Lagos state.

"That project, once it has been finalised, could be more than US$2 billion in terms of investment," he reportedly said. "Hopefully we can start sometime this year. It will provide capacity, not only for containers, but also for oil, break-bulk and offshore."

Jakobsen was further quoted by Africa Trade magazine as saying: "We are actively looking in East Africa for opportunities. There is an ongoing tender process for the port of Mombasa, where APM Terminals has shown interest in building two new berths in the Kenyan city.”