The modernization of ports in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the major projects on the table of the Congolese government. Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde held a meeting with members of the government to discuss the various modernization projects of the country’s main ports. It emerged from this meeting that the Qatari firm DP World is currently carrying out the first rip-rap work on the site of the Deep Water Port of Banana.
The President of the DRC, Félix Tshisekedi had already mentioned the importance of the creation of new modern communication routes, including highways and modern railways. The modernization of ports in the DRC is therefore a major economic challenge for the country.
However, the administrative red tape in the non-transfer of shares held by Regideso, Société Commerciale des Transports et des Ports (SCTP) and Congolaise des Voies Maritimes (CVM) caused a cumulative delay of more than four months on the schedule. Works. Added to this is also the problem of relocating the Banana naval base.
The site of the future Port of Banana is subject to coastal protection works by riprap, works carried out at 40% to date. The technical concept of the Port to be built is very advanced. However, according to government spokesman Patrick Muyaya, administrative and logistical problems have slowed down the process of modernizing ports in the DRC.
In short, the modernization of ports in the DRC is an ambitious project that requires strong government involvement. Delays have been caused by administrative and logistical problems, but the project is on track. The next steps will be to solve the problems related to the transfer of the title deeds and the relocation of the naval base of Banana in the province of Kongo Central