Dutch consortium consisting of engineering and consultancy firm Witteveen+Bos and Maritime & Transport Business Solutions B.V. (MTBS) is working on a master plan for the development of the port of Cotonou.
In September 2015, the Dutch embassy in Cotonou (Benin) commissioned the consortium to prepare plan for the development of the port.
The existing port is characterized by obsolete quaysides and traffic congestion, and requires spatial restructuring. The project plan currently foresees an increase in annual cargo handling capacity from approx. 7 million to approx. 20 million tonnes per year.
Witteveen+Bos and MTBS are working on a master plan for the development of the port of Cotonou during the period until 2040. They are also preparing the associated investment and financing plan, a port organisation plan and a plan for the implementation of short-term measures, and developing the required institutional frameworks for the project (public-private partnership).
As a first step, Witteveen+Bos and MTBS will perform an analysis of the regional market, the port’s layout and logistics, the traffic situation, and strategic environmental aspects such as erosion.
The integrated master plan is aimed at enabling the further development of the port of Cotonou and strengthening its role as a key driver of Benin’s economy.