Egyptian consortium to build USD 450 mn Dekheila dry bulk terminal

Dekheila dry bulk terminal development contract awarded: A local Egyptian consortium will invest USD 450 mn to build, manage, and operate a 300k square meter dry bulk terminal in the country’s Dekheila Port under an initial agreement inked with the Alexandria Port Authority, according to a statement.

Who’s in on the project? The consortium includes four local firms — commodities trader Mediterraneo Egypt, Latt Trading and Shipping, the Holding Company for Maritime and Land Transport, and Elsewedy.

A long time coming: Alexandria Port Authority has been on the hunt for grain shipping and handling companies to take over the terminal since August 2023. And until last month, several local consortiums were competing to manage and operate the terminal.

Project profile: The consortium will develop, manage, operate, and maintain the 300k sqm terminal and its accompanying logistics zone. The project aims to boost handling and storage capacity, particularly for grains like wheat, corn, and soybeans — it should add some 6-7 mn tons to our annual handling capacity and have the ability to accommodate up to four ships of up to 240 meters each.

Work has already started: The project’s superstructure is already 51% complete, according to the statement.

Part of a wider plan: The project is part of efforts to develop the Alexandria Port and boost its capacity to over 120 mn tons a year, the statement says. The new Madbouly government is looking to continue developing logistics zones adjacent to ports to mediate transport between production hubs and export and import terminals, as part of its efforts to improve the country’s ports.

REMEMBER: Alexandria Port Authority is gearing up to hand over two more maritime terminals to local and foreign operators this year — the Alexandria Port’s passenger terminal and the container terminal at Dekheila Port.