Senegal and DP World, the global port operator, have reinforced their collaboration on the deep-water port project of Ndayane. A new agreement has been signed to accelerate the financing and construction of this major infrastructure, which aims to ease congestion at the Port of Dakar and position Senegal as a key logistics hub in the region.
A Strategic Project with Concrete Details
Senegal’s Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, attended the signing of this amendment in Dubai on September 11. The document was signed by DP World, Senegal’s Ministry of Finance, and the Autonomous Port of Dakar. It seeks to secure financing and ensure progress on the works, which began in January 2022.
The first phase of the project is estimated at USD 840 million. It includes a 300-hectare container terminal and an 840-meter quay capable of accommodating very large vessels. A second phase, costing USD 290 million, is planned to host even larger ships. According to the latest updates, about 40% of the dredging works have already been completed.
Significant Economic Impact
This port, the first to be built in Senegal since its independence, is seen as a solution to the saturation of the Port of Dakar, which currently handles 95% of the country’s external trade. In addition to decongesting traffic, the project is supported by a 600-hectare special economic zone.
In the long term, the Port of Ndayane is expected to create nearly 3,000 jobs during construction and several hundred permanent positions. For DP World, this agreement marks an important step in consolidating its presence on the continent while enabling Senegal to strengthen its competitiveness against other West African ports such as Abidjan and Lomé.
