(Business in Cameroon) – The construction of an eight-silo complex at Douala Port is 93% complete, with the facility expected to be fully operational by March 2025. The project, funded by Afisa Food Industry SA, a subsidiary of Sudan’s Elnefeidi Group, will provide 40,000 tons of grain storage capacity.
Each of the eight silos will hold 5,000 tons, and work on the project, which began in August 2023, is progressing smoothly. The reinforced concrete structures and loading unit for trucks are finished, along with the metal framework and aerial walkways. The remaining work involves completing the metal walls of the truck loading unit, expected to wrap up by December 2024.
The project’s third phase, started in July 2024, focuses on building foundations and installing 200 meters of rail to support the mechanized unloading system for ships. The Port Authority of Douala (PAD) is overseeing the project, with Afaplan, a Portuguese firm, handling construction, and Bureau Veritas managing technical supervision.
While the cost of the project remains undisclosed, PAD reports that the new facility will feature a suction-based grain unloading system, capable of handling 600 tons per hour. This will significantly reduce docking times, with ships unloading in under three days. Currently, the port’s grain terminal is primarily used by Grand Moulin Cameroun (GMC) at berth 13.
The silos, on a 20-year concession to Afisa, will eventually be handed back to the PAD after their use.
