Deep-Water Port, Industrial & Logistics Development Program

A port-linked industrial and logistics development opportunity at Africa’s deep-water gateways, examining how deep-water access can support processing, warehousing and regional trade. The program is at NBP-2 on the NBP readiness ladder and is recorded at concept confidence. Scope, cost and structure remain subject to the studies listed below.

Deep-water port capacity delivers its full economic benefit only when supported by adjacent industrial land, utilities, road connectivity and customs and logistics systems. Those enabling elements are the constraint, not berth capacity.

Convert deep-water port access into local industrial and logistics activity, so that more value is retained onshore rather than exported in raw form.

Study a coordinated development of serviced industrial land, warehousing, cold chain, utilities and road connectivity adjacent to existing port infrastructure. This is an NBP-developed concept and is distinct from the existing port facility and from any government or private program relating to it.

• Port-linked logistics and warehousing
• Serviced industrial land
• Cold chain facilities
• Manufacturing and processing plots
• Utilities provision — power, water, wastewater
• Road connectivity improvement
• Digital infrastructure
• Customs and logistics systems

Location: Gulf of Guinea, Africa

Exporters and processors in the hinterland the port serves, logistics operators, and the port-area workforce and businesses.

• Technical scope to be established through pre-feasibility study
• Design standards to follow applicable national and international codes
• Environmental and social screening prior to design finalisation

• Electricity supply
• Water and wastewater
• Road connectivity
• Digital connectivity
• Land availability
• Skills availability

Regional trade routes across Africa depend on a limited number of deep-water access points, several of them serving landlocked interiors. Industrial land adjacent to such access is scarce, which is what makes the opportunity worth studying.

Delivery and ownership structure to be determined at commercial structuring (NBP-6). Options include public delivery, partnership structures and concession models, assessed against value for money and risk allocation.

To be determined. Suitable capital categories will be assessed at NBP-6 and NBP-7 against the project’s risk profile and revenue characteristics.

Revenue and sustainability model under development. Where user charges are not viable, availability-based or budget-funded models will be assessed.

Classification: To be assigned following environmental and social screening.

Environmental assessment will be completed to the standard required by national regulation and applicable lender policy before any commitment is sought.

Social assessment will address land, livelihoods, resettlement risk, community consultation and equitable access to the resulting service.

1. 1Concept developmentCurrentScope, beneficiaries and components defined at concept level.
2. 2Pre-feasibilityNextTechnical and commercial viability tested at order-of-magnitude level.
3. 3FeasibilitySubsequentFull technical, financial, environmental and social case established.
4. 4Structuring & financingSubsequentDelivery model settled and capital matched to the opportunity.