APMT, Nigeria forge roadmap for electrified container trade

APM Terminals’ (APMT) West African Container Terminal (WACT) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop a roadmap for the electrification of container transport in Nigeria.

The agreement was signed in New York during the Global African Business Initiative week.

The initiative supports the goals of Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, aiming to decarbonise the country’s port and transportation sector through increased adoption of electric technologies.

Frederik Klinke, CEO of APMT Nigeria, during the signing event at the Dutch Consulate in New York, said: “We believe that Nigeria is ideally situated to lead West Africa’s transition to low-carbon logistics by electrifying its container transport sector.

“Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and trade hub, and our research shows us that the country can leapfrog fossil-fuel infrastructure by adopting proven electric technologies. Therefore, we are very optimistic about our joint plans to start shaping the phased roadmap of a electrified future for container logistics.”

Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director of the NPA, noted that the Onne Port would become Nigeria’s first green port under this collaboration.

“By this development the Onne Port will be the first green port in Nigeria and thereby promoting the decarbonisation efforts within the transportation ecosystem. This will also make Nigerian ports the leader on the continent in terms of sustainable port operations,” Dantsoho stated.

The project is expected to be fully funded by APMT, with an initial investment of $60 million. Dantsoho expressed hope that this initiative could serve as a model for other African countries.

In July, a white paper by APMT and international consultancy Systemiq highlighted a unique opportunity for Nigeria to electrify its containerised trade at scale.