The $165-million expansion of DP World’s container terminal at the Port of Maputo broke ground on Wednesday.
Mozambique’s Minister of Transport and Logistics, João Jorge Matlomb, attended the event, underlining the importance of the investment to the national and regional economy.
DP World said the expansion of the container terminal was part of a long-term strategy to meet global trade demands, create thousands of new jobs and contribute to Mozambique’s economic growth.
The project will enhance capabilities of the port significantly, positioning Maputo as a trade and logistics hub for southern Africa and opening a gateway for larger container ships.
“The container terminal expansion signifies our intent to strengthen Mozambique’s economic growth, together with the Government of Mozambique and our partners in the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC),”DP World CEO and managing director for Sub-Saharan Africa, Mohammed Akoojee, said.
“The Port of Maputo is at the heart of transforming trade on the African continent, as it has the potential to connect the landlocked countries of southern Africa to the rest of the world.
“This investment reinforces Mozambique’s role as a key cargo gateway, improves its global competitiveness, and positions the country as a dynamic business hub. By working hand-in-hand with our partners, we are committed to developing innovative end-to-end logistics solutions that reinvent trade on the south-eastern coast of Africa.”
The port will be equipped with the latest technology and world-class infrastructure to boost operational capacity and efficiency, with the terminal yard and quay undergoing a complete revamp and modernisation.
Yard capacity will increase by 6.48 hectares, doubling throughput from 255 000 TEUs to 530 000 TEUs, while the total quay length will be extended to 650 metres and the berth deepened to 16 metres.
To manage larger container volumes and a diverse range of commodities, new equipment will be introduced, including three ship-to-shore (STS) cranes capable of handling post-Panamax ships and an expanded fleet of rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes, complementing the existing mobile harbour crane (MHC) fleet.
Reefer container capacity will increase to over 700 plugs, supporting the growth of agricultural exports.
“The container terminal’s increased capacity will lead to faster, cost-effective carrier turnarounds and more competitive freight rates that will attract more vessels to the Port of Maputo,” DP World Maputo CEO, Sumeet Bhardwaj, said.
“The project will unlock economic opportunity across borders and create new possibilities for local industries. For farmers, manufacturers and exporters across Mozambique and beyond, their goods will reach new global markets quicker and cheaper, empowering communities, enhancing livelihoods and driving inclusive economic growth.”
DP World added that “considerable technological enhancements” would usher in “a new era of fully automated and predictable operations”, including the automation of gate facilities and the use of optical character recognition technology, which will streamline container number, condition and client identification processes.
In addition, the terminal operation system (TOS) will be enhanced, a robust vehicle booking system (VBS) will be implemented, and the port’s client community system (CCS) will be digitised for better connectivity with shipping lines, customs and banks.
Enhanced security measures, including broader live monitoring and advanced CCTV technologies, would improve operational safety, the port operator said.
