Logistics

Gabon begins Kobe-Kobe deep-water port development to boost mining exports. (Image source: Présidence de la République Gabonaise)

Gabon’s president and head of state, Brice Clotaire OLIGUI NGUEMA, has officially launched construction works for the Kobe-Kobe deep-water port in Nyonie, located in the Komo-Ocean department

The inauguration ceremony marked a significant milestone for the country’s infrastructure development agenda and brought together government officials, administrative authorities, legislative representatives, traditional leaders, and members of the diplomatic community accredited to Gabon.

The deep-water mineral port project follows a tripartite agreement signed on 23 April 2026 between the Gabonese State, Africa Global Logistics (AGL), and the Algest Investment Bank group. With the commencement of construction, the project has moved into its implementation phase.

Located along the Atlantic coast in the Estuary province, the large-scale development will cover approximately 500 hectares. The project includes a mineral port with four berths, a 535 km mineral railway line, the 400 MW Booué hydroelectric dam, and infrastructure supporting the Belinga iron mine, which is expected to reach a production capacity of 100 million tonnes of iron annually.

The integrated infrastructure network will provide a connection between mining production areas, railway facilities, and the port platform, enabling the transport and export of processed mineral products to international markets.

The Kobe-Kobe project reflects Gabon’s broader ambition to develop, process, and maximise the value of its natural resources at a regional level. It aligns with the Head of State’s vision of creating strategic infrastructure that supports resource extraction, industrial processing, and exports while promoting economic transformation, employment creation, territorial development, and greater industrial sovereignty.

Through the development of these interconnected infrastructures, the project is expected to generate more than 9,000 direct jobs and 100,000 indirect jobs by 2030.

The initiative has attracted investment and expertise from partners across multiple regions, bringing together companies involved in infrastructure, rail development, energy, mining, and mineral marketing. Key partners include AGL for infrastructure, China Railway for railway development, EDF Synohydro for energy infrastructure, Tragigura for international marketing of minerals and processed products, and Fortescue for mining and industrial expertise.

The project further reinforces Gabon’s position as an attractive investment destination supported by strong institutions, political stability, and openness to international partnerships.

The development of these strategic projects represents the implementation of the Head of State’s vision for Gabon’s economic and industrial transformation, with the objective of creating value, generating employment, strengthening competitiveness, and positioning the country as a centre of excellence in Central Africa and beyond.

Spiro keen to expand growing industrial footprint (Image source: Spiro)

Spiro has announced a US$215mn investment to accelerate the deployment of its electric mobility and battery-swapping infrastructure across Africa

Building on the support of long-standing institutional partners such as FEDA, its latest equity round draws capital from Europe and Africa, with investors such as Impact Fund Denmark and Equitane.

In a statement, Spiro said it confirmed growing global confidence in scalable infrastructure-led business models in Africa and other emerging markets.

The company added that it is looking to execute its next chapter of pan-African expansion.

“This investment will support the expansion of Spiro’s battery-swapping network, strengthen its industrial and assembly footprint, accelerate technology development and support the company’s entry into new high-growth African markets,” it noted.

With operations across seven African markets — Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon — it now looking to further expand local production and enter new territories, including Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

“This past year marked a defining strategic milestone for Spiro,” said Gagan Gupta, founder of Spiro and chairman of Equitane, an investment platform committed to African long-term growth.

“Across seven active markets, our deployment of 100,000 electric vehicles and 2,500 smart-swap stations has turned sustainable mobility into an affordable, everyday reality.”

Gupta also noted that Spiro has become a major driver of local industrialisation, value creation and manufacturing across African markets with 6,000 sustainable direct and indirect jobs.

Its industrial footprint includes manufacturing plants in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, alongside a state-of-the-art battery recycling facility in Nigeria.

“Supported by our global pool of investors, we are entering our next growth chapter to deliver clean, cost-effective energy and transport alternatives to millions of riders across the continent.”

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MSC expands Kribi intermodal connectivity

Congo port boosts capacity with Konecranes fleet

AFD loan backs South Africa rail decarbonisation

Kribi boosts Central African trade

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company has strengthened its intermodal logistics network in Cameroon through the integration of the Port of Kribi into a comprehensive door-to-door transport solution designed to improve cargo connectivity between Cameroon and inland destinations across Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR)

The expanded service combines ocean shipping, port handling and inland road transportation into a streamlined logistics offering, connecting Kribi with major regional destinations such as Yaoundé in Cameroon, Moundou and N’Djamena in Chad, and Bangui in the CAR. Supported by up to four vessel calls each week and direct shipping routes linking Cameroon with Asian markets including China, Korea, Vietnam and India, the solution is expected to provide businesses with a faster and more cost-effective cargo transport option.

As regional trade activity continues to increase, the enhanced use of Kribi is expected to improve freight movement throughout Central Africa while helping reduce congestion along traditional trade corridors. The Port of Kribi, Cameroon’s only deep-water port and the largest in Central Africa, remains a key gateway for regional commerce and logistics operations.

MSC stated that inland cargo distribution from Kribi will be managed through coordinated logistics services handled by its local operational teams. The company oversees the full transport process, including customs procedures, documentation management, cargo transportation and real-time shipment monitoring, ensuring improved visibility and efficient cargo movement from the port to final delivery points.

The latest development forms part of the second instalment of MSC’s Intermodal Campaign series. Following the first episode, which focused on the Abidjan–Ouagadougou rail corridor, the campaign continues to highlight the company’s efforts to strengthen cargo transportation networks and regional trade connectivity across Africa.

Konecranes Liftace 4532 TCE5 reach stackers. (Image source: Konecranes)

An expanding container terminal in the Republic of the Congo has placed an order for a new package of equipment from Konecranes to accommodate rising container traffic 

The order was recorded in the first quarter of 2026, with deliveries expected during the second half of the year.

Situated along the country’s western coastline, the terminal plays an important role in facilitating container movement across Central Africa. Earlier deliveries of Konecranes reach stackers and empty container handlers between 2021 and 2025 helped establish a dependable cargo-handling fleet at the facility. The latest procurement is intended to strengthen operational capacity as the terminal continues to expand.

The order includes five Konecranes Liftace 4532 TCE5 reach stackers, developed to improve the movement of containers throughout the yard, alongside six Konecranes Liftace E 6/7 ECC9 empty container handlers dedicated to stacking and repositioning empty containers. The lift trucks are designed to combine productivity with advanced safety and ergonomic features, creating a more efficient and comfortable working environment for operators.

Local delivery and long-term service support will be managed by Konecranes distributor Paterson Simons. The distributor’s technical specialists will remain on site for eight months to assist with commissioning and support the early stages of operations.

“Our long-standing cooperation with the terminal group, together with Paterson Simons’ local presence, creates the conditions for smooth commissioning and dependable lifecycle support. The result is a fleet designed to improve operational efficiency and sustain performance,” said Patrik Lundbäck, vice-president, sales & distribution, Lift Trucks, Konecranes

Supporting quay-side operations, the Konecranes Gottwald ESP.7 mobile harbour crane will enhance the loading and unloading of both containerised and general cargo. Offering a lifting capacity of up to 125 tonnes and an outreach of as much as 51 metres, the crane has been engineered to deliver reliable performance across a broad range of cargo-handling applications, including vessels in the post-Panamax category.

All 11 lift trucks, together with the mobile harbour crane, will feature TRUCONNECT Premium Remote Monitoring technology. The system provides real-time operational insights aimed at supporting preventative maintenance and increasing equipment availability.

“When customers choose Konecranes for both yard and quay equipment, they benefit from a consistent approach across the terminal. With our digital services delivering performance insights for the full fleet, operators gain the visibility to support efficiency over the longer term,” commented Antoine Bosquet, vice-president sales, Quay, Konecranes.

Konecranes continues to strengthen its position in the material handling sector through a customer-focused strategy and ongoing investment in business development and operational improvement. The company is also advancing digitalisation and new technologies while promoting more efficient material flows through solutions that contribute to decarbonisation, circularity and enhanced safety.