The main freight forwarding and customs clearance company
in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Agetraf provides customers with
an extensive infrastructure (office buildings, warehouses, container
yards and handling equipment). Saga has been part of the Bollore
group since 1990. Saga's activites include, seafreight (import/export),
customs clearance, airfreight, handling: forklifts, cranes, superstackers,
warehousing, trucking and a shipping line agent.
Matadi
Port Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Matadi Port Infrastructure
Matadi is situated in the Democratic Republic of Congo,
on the left bank of the River Congo halfway between the atlantic and
Kinshasa. Matadi is a major town and is home to approx. 250,000 people
and is the major gateway to the River Congo.
Location
On the left bank of the River Congo - halfway
between the Atlantic and the capital Kinshasa
Access and Pilotage
Access by pilot's assitance FM Station up and down river
Draft 21' up river and 21'06"" down river
Pilotage compulsory
No towage assistance, port has 2 tugs of 600 HP
VHF contact through Banana radio
Draft at Harbour
Mouth
6.4m
Berths
8 (N° 1 to 4 and N° 7 to 10)
LOA ranging from 141 m to 188 m
Containers berths: 2 -Berth N° 5 and 6
LOA 156 m and 176 m
Roro berths: Berth N° 1 to N° 10
Ore berths: Nil
Tanker berths: ANGO ANGO Terminal
Grain berths: Berth N° 9 and N° 10
Fertilizer berth: 8 - N° 1 to N° 4 and N°7 to
N°10, LOA see Gal cargo
Mooring buoys: Nil
Other berths: Quai Fluvial for passengers, Onatra tugboats
and coaster from Boma and Banana
Quay Length
Pier 6 and 7 are the longest at 175m
Cranes
x1 50t derreck and 39 cranes with up to 6t
cababilities.
Rail
Connections
Linked to the national railway system
Warehousing/Storage
Warehousing, cold storage, vegetable oil and oil tanks are
available
Container terminal: Q5 and Q6 (3500 TEU full and empty)
Log park: 2 log parks : ABC area (40.000 CBM) and Kalala (15000 CBM)
Cold storage: Nil but direct discharge from vsl to truck / wagon
Sheds in port: P1 to P4 and P8 to P10
Country Information
Local currency: Franc Congolais (FC)
Special regulations: FM ONATRA (Stevedoring)
FM COMMAITIME (Harbour police)
National days: 01/01 New Year's Day - 04/01 17/05 - 30/06 - 1/08
- 25/12
Official working hours : 0630 to 1430 hours (1st shift)
Break
time 1100 to 1130 hours
1430 to 2230 hours (2nd shift)
Break time 1800 to 1830 hours
2230 to 0630 hours (3rd shift)
Break time 0200 to 0230 hours
Overtime work : 1430 to 0630
Banana
Port Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Banana port is situated in Banana Creek,
an inlet about 1km wide on the north bank of the Congo River's mouth,
separated from the ocean by a spit of land 3km long and 100 to 400m
wide. The port is located on the creek side of the spit, which shelters
it from the ocean. It is about 8km south-east of Muanda and connected
by a paved road running along the coast.
The port of Banana consists of one wharf
of 75m and depth 5.18m, with two small cranes for cargo handling, and
a few small jetties. The port has an oil terminal 4km further upriver,
to which tankers discharge while at anchor in the creek
Transport News ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Real Work Begins For Africa's Largest Trade Bloc COMESA
- 08/06/09
COMESA has concluded its 13th summit hoping for greater integration with the
launch of the COMESA
customs union. The COMESA customs union aims to lift tariffs among member states
while harmonizing
barriers with third parties through the Common External Tariff. The adoption
of the legal instruments for the
customs union, the customs regulations governing the union and the customs
management regulations,
means that the real work now begins. COMESA also aims to have a monetary union
by 2015 and a
COMESA Community by 2025. [Xinhua 08/06/09]
Boma Cargo Scrutinized - 01/04/09
An instruction has been issued by the government in DRC that with immediate
effect only containers destined for delivery within the vicinity of Boma
will be allowed to be discharged at the port. We expect that authorities
will scrutinise manifests to check that the cargo is consigned to receivers
in the local area of Boma. All other containers will be refused and discharged
in Matadi. [Local Agent 01/04/09]
Stevedore Strike Ends - 20/04/09
A strike by local stevedores at Matadi port has now ended on 16/04/09. The
strike had been running for over
a week having commenced on 08/04/09. [SAGA 20/04/09]
New Port For Congo - 15/11/08
Belgian port developer Rent A Port is undertaking a feasibility study into
the construction of a deepwater port
in the Bas Congo Province of DRC, near the mouth of the River Congo. Point
Noire in neighbouring Congo-
Brazzaville is currently the main container port in the region and Brazzaville
is considering the development
of a second container terminal on its coastline. However, the government of
DRC hopes to construct its own
modern port to act as a transhipment hub and underline its importance as by
far the largest and most
populous country in the region. [WCN 15/11/08]
Tin Exports To Be Banned - 06/11/08
Raw tin exports from eastern DRC provinces will be banned from January 2009
in favour of refined tin ore.
The government wants Congo to be an exporter of value-added metals as opposed
to raw materials. It is
expected that the export ban will also cover tungsten ore wolframite and columbite-tantalite.
[SAGA 06/11/08]
Comesa Moves to Legalise Country's Invisible Foreign
Trade - November 2008
The huge proportion of the trade between the DRC and the rest of the world
that goes unrecorded will soon
see the light of day as efforts to regularise it intensify. The resources-rich
DRC not only supplies its
neighbours with light-value products like quality timber and minerals, it is
also a big market for their fish,
foodstuffs and manufactured goods. But less than 30% of the transactions across
its borders is legal.
Efforts by the Common market for Eastern and Southern Africa [COMESA], assisted
by the British
Department for International Development and American USAid are now in high
gear to bring the other 70%
plus above board so that the traders currently classified as smugglers can
operate gainfully, while the
government also earns more revenue from the provision of better services to
the people. The Comesa
initiative, known as Trading for Peace, specifically aims at achieving security
and poverty reduction through
trade in natural resources.
It is also trying to create the Simplified Trade Regime [STR]
that should make it possible to transact crossborder
trade using simple documents to replace the current practice where a myriad
taxes are collected
using many separate documents, especially on the DRC side of the border.
DRC Major Economic Hubs To Be Connected - 18/09/08
China is expected to build 4,000km of road connecting DRC’s major economic
hubs and improve 250km of
road in Kinshasa alone at a cost of US$9 million. Such infrastructural development
is part of a multi-billion
dollar deal signed between the two countries which allows China to mine in
the mineral rich DRC for the next
22 years. Opposition members have criticised the deal, arguing that it
favours the Chinese. But government argues
that the state enterprise Gecca mines will get 38% of all dividends and adding
also the tax of which 67% of
revenue from the contract will stay in the Congo. [SABC 18/09/08]
Strike Ends: Matadi, DRC - 26/08/08
Workers at DRC's port authority have ended their strike over pay, allowing
imports and exports to resume.
Employees of the state-owned Office National des Transports on 22/08/08 stopped
work when their salaries weren't adjusted to reflect the new minimum wage.
According to the Solidarite labor union the authority has now agreed to
add
the difference to next month's pay check.
Strike Matadi, DRC - 22/08/08
Please be advised that since this morning a strike is taking place at Matadi
port [DRC].
There is no official information about the cause or any idea of the duration
of this strike.
We will keep you updated as events unfold.
Political landscape remains fragile - 29/07/08
The ongoing peace process offers hope and confidence on the reconstruction
and development currently underway. However, peace and stability alone
might not
guarantee success and prosperity due to the major challenges that lie ahead.
Government’s commitment to physical and social infrastructure development,
prudent macroeconomic policies and strengthening of institutional framework
and administrative capability, among others, should help to anchor the reconstruction
path the country has adopted. Click here to read on...
DRC Plans US9 Billion Rail Project With China - 17/06/08
As two European companies start work on short-term contracts to rescue the
existing railway networks in the DRC, an ambitious plan to build more than
3,000 km of new railway with further spending on roads, has been outlined
by Infrastructure Minister Pierre Lumbi. The plans form part of a US$9bn
agreement between DRC and China, which will give the Chinese access to more
than 10 million tonnes of copper and 600 000 tonnes of cobalt in mineral-rich
Katanga province over 30 years. The idea is to form a joint venture owned 32%
by DRC's state-owned mining company Gecamines and 68% by Chinese firms including
China Railway
Engineering Corp and Sinohydro. The Chinese would build the transport
corridors needed to move the minerals to the Atlantic coast and other
routes connecting the north and south of the country. [Railway Gazette
17/06/08]
DRC Gets $110m To Repair Roads - 10/07/08
The World Bank and Britain have given DRC US$110 million to repair
roads. The aid will be spread over a 5-year period and will be
used to restore 1,800km of roads in three provinces: South Kivu, Katanga
and Orientale. The World Bank will provide US$50 million with Britain
contributing the remaining US$60 million. The funds will cover
less
than 10% of roads considered in need of urgent repairs. [AFP 10/07/08]
Northern Corridor Members Urged To Develop Infrastructure-
10/03/08
A workshop organised by the Northern Corridor Transit Transport Coordination
Authority [NCTTCA] seeks to
achieve consensus amongst stakeholders to implement and participate
in regional programmes aimed at
improving the smooth flow of traffic along the Northern Corridor. Aimed
to promote regional economic development
members are to focus on establishing the requisite infrastructure.
Member countries of the NCTTA include DRC,
Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and Sudan. [TM 10/03/08]
DRC - Inspection Procedure For Import Cargo -
10/01/08
Since 2007, all import cargo to DRC has undergone inspection by
BIVAC / Bureau VERITAS prior to shipment. From 01/01/08, OFIDA
(Office
des Douanes et Accises) and OCC (Office Congolais de Contrôle)
will no longer accept exemptions. Any cargo without a certificate
of inspection will not be accepted for discharge by the local authorities
and returned to the port of origin. Please note that cargoes destined
for Brazzaville [Congo] via DRC are not concerned. Also all humanitarian
cargoes to DRC are
also exempt from inspection. For the official notice from OFIDA please
click here
Central Corridor Roads Ready By 2010 -
03/12/07
The 'Central Corridor', the road network linking DRC to Tanzania, Rwanda,
Burundi, and Uganda will be upgraded and completed by 2010. Mr. Dieter
Schelling, the World Bank's task team leader said, "The Central
Transport Corridor is critical in promoting regional integration,
trade and investment because it opens up areas of main economic activities,
such as mining, tourism, agriculture and manufacturing, in addition
to serving four landlocked neighbouring countries." [WB 03/12/07]
Fragile Economy- 04/12/07
The DRC remains one of the poorest nations in the world. Its inability
to capitalise and fully exploit the abundant mineral resources with
which it is endowed has been the misfortune that the new government
is determined to correct. After many years of conflict and political
instability, the country is beginning to show significant progress
both on the political and economic front. Following the successful
general election in 2006, the new government formed in February 2007
has committed itself to the reconstruction of this mineral-rich African
state. The government has adopted prudent macroeconomic policies
that are fostering more fiscal and monetary discipline. Overall,
government needs to exercise strong expenditure controls while boosting
its revenue collection mechanisms. There is no doubt, however, that
infrastructural investment is heavily dependent on large international
donor support, which will pose more challenges to the conduct of
monetary policy. Also, we expect the government’s fiscal deficit
to increase in the medium term as investment spending increases.
The conflicts in the Eastern DRC still poses major threat to the
progress already made.
Irrespective of these challenges, there is a sense of a relatively
stable administration that is committed to exercising its democratic
mandate. Investors are not only attracted by the significant progress
made on the political and security fronts but, also the resultant business-friendly
environment. The DRC remains a fragile economy that is heavily reliant
on international financial support for its reconstruction. However,
growth prospects look positive in the medium term. [Standard Bank 04/12/07]
New Forklifts for Matadi Port - 26/11/07
Onatra port has received 36 forklifts out of which 20 have been allocated
to operations of breakbulk cargo in Matadi port and 5 forklifts will
be transferred to Boma port. [SAGA 26/11/07]
DRC Import Cargo: Namibia To Invest In Walvis
Bay Port, Rail Line - 17/10/07
Namibia expects to borrow nearly $200 million from international lenders
to expand its Walvis Bay port and plans to build a major railroad from
the facility to boost trade with neighbouring countries, officials
have said. The Namibian Port Authority (Namport) will spend $189 million
to expand the port to handle more imports mainly destined for Zambia
and DRC. [Reuters 17/10/07]
IMF Warns Of Impact Of China’s Loan To
DRC- 05/10/07
The International Monetary Fund [IMF] has warned of the macro-economic
risk of the DRC proposed US$5 billion loan from China. Announced
last month, the money is to be used for the modernisation of the
DRC’s infrastructure and development of its mining industry.In
terms of the agreement, China will be repaid in mining concessions.
When fully disbursed, the loan will be one of the biggest Chinese
financial commitments on the African continent. But the IMF, which
said it had been caught off guard by the announcement, said on
that the international community was concerned about the DRC taking
on
new public debt since it went against debt relief efforts. [The
Times 05/10/07]
DRC Axes Transport Minister- 01/10/07
The DRC has suspended its transport minister after a plane crash in
the capital. The crash underscores the dangers of flying in the DRC,
which has experienced more fatal air crashes than any other African
country since 1945, according to the Aviation Safety Network. [SAPA]
China Invests In DRC Transport Infrastructure-
17/09/07
China has signed a deal to loan US$5bn to the DRC to develop infrastructure
and mining partnerships. US$3 billion will build 3,200km of railway
between Sakania in the south and Matadi in the west, as well as a
3,200km road linking Kisangani in the northeast and Kasumbalesa in
the south. A motorway will also be built between Lubumbashi, capital
of the southern Katanga province, and Kasumbalesa, a major customs
point on the border with Zambia. The projects are expected to be
completed within 36 months according to the DRC Infrastructure Minister
Pierre Lumbi. [AFP 17/09/07]
DRC Imposes Mineral-Export Tax - 09/08/07
The DRC is to tax mineral exports at a rate of more than 10% according
to local government officials. The country which has a 10th of
the world’s copper reserves, is trying to rebuild its economy
after two civil wars between 1996 and 2003 left 4 million people
dead.
It hopes to raise its budget by 25% to US$3 billion next year with
the help of increased revenue from mineral production. [Bloomberg
09/08/07]
DRC To Join OHADA-
01/08/07
DRC is to shortly adhere to the Organisation pour l'Harmonisation du
Droit des Affaires en Afrique / Organization for the Harmonisation
of Business Law in Africa [OHADA] [www.ohada.com]. Created in 1993
OHADA is a legal tool thought out and designed by and for Africa
to serve the purpose of regional integration and economic growth
on the Continent.
Q&A: Antwerp & Matadi Port – Sister
Partnership- 01/08/07
Since November 2003 a collaboration agreement has been in force between
the Port Authority of Antwerp [APA] and the ‘Office National
des Transports’ [Onatra] in the DRC. Under the terms of this
agreement the Port Authority undertook to help the Congolese government
with the repair and reorganisation of its ports. This month will
see the latest delegation from the APA paying a visit with their
counterparts in Matadi. Click here to read on...
Matadi Port Rehabilitation Works- 23/04/07
The vice-governor of Bas-Congo province has held talks with Chinese
investors willing to finance the restoration works of four quays
at Matadi port at an estimated cost of US$51 million. [OTAL local
agent 23/04/07]
DRC Lifts Ban On Export Of Copper Concentrates-
12/04/07
The DRC has lifted a ban on the export of raw materials into Zambia
following high-level talks between the two countries. The DRC government
has since opened its three border posts with Zambia which were temporarily
closed to traffic in order to stop the export of copper concentrates.
At the end of March DRC had decided to restrict the movement of copper
concentrates between the countries. According to the decision, export
of unprocessed minerals [minerals scraps, malachite, etc] had been
forbidden, except with conditional authority from the Ministry of
Mines. Zambia President Levy Mwanawasa intervened after more than
400 trucks carrying copper concentrates for various destinations
were marooned at the frontier. [Xinhua 12/04/07]
DRC To Get Grant For
Roads - 03/04/07
The DRC is set to get $180-million grant from the World Bank to
help fund roads and other projects.
[Sapa 03/04/07]
DRC Government Implements Imports Verification
Program [PVI] - 01/04/07
Bureau Veritas/BIVAC has been mandated by the Government of DRC to
implement the Imports Verification Programme [PVI - Programme de
Vérification
des Importations. Please see March 2007 trasnport Report for more details.
SADC Trade Mission In DRC - 01/04/07
The Association of SADC Chambers of Commerce and Industry [ASCCI] will
attend a trade and investment conference in DRC. The SADC trade mission
team will look into issues including economic reconstruction as well
as business opportunities available for the region. The mission is
jointly hosted by the ASCCI and Fèdèration des Entreprises
du Congo [FEC], set for 22-25 April 2007 with 200 business leaders
and captains of industry expected to participate.
The primary objective of the forum is to promote and
facilitate trade and investment opportunities between the DRC and complement
NEPAD and
African Union programmes. The trade mission will include business-to-business
matchmaking meetings in the fields of agriculture, telecommunications,
mining, manufacturing, financial services, tourism/conservation, roads/rail
construction, construction and building, petroleum/natural gasses,
transport, services, water resources, healthcare and pharmaceuticals.
Please view http://www.ascci.org.za/events.html for more information.
New Road Linking DRC, Uganda And Rwanda -
08/03/07
The Ugandan parliament has approved a supplementary US$37m loan from
the African Development Bank for a road project linking Rwanda, Uganda
and DRC. The project comprises a two-lane asphalt road running from
Kabale and Kisoro in Uganda to Cyanika in Rwanda and Bunagana in
DRC. Road construction is expected to start in May and last for 36
months. The roads has been identified under the Preferential Trade
Area as a feasible and viable road in the region, it will also pass
through a mineral rich area with huge deposits of iron ore in Muko
[Uganda]. [Rwanda Info exchange 08/03/07]
New DRC Government Announced- 06/02/07
The new DRC government was announced on 05/02/07, thus ending weeks
of speculation as to its composition. The 60 member government, headed
by veteran politician Antoine Gizenga as Prime Minister, was announced
two months after the inauguration of Joseph Kabila as President of
the DRC on 06/12/06. The Alliance for the Presidential Majority [AMP]
- the political coalition of President Kabila - has control of all
the ministerial posts in relation to security and reconstruction.
The new government now faces the huge task of rebuilding the Congo
after a decade of conflict, war and a difficult political transition
period which began in 2003. [MONUC 06/02/07]
Matadi - Progressive Port Revival-
01/02/07
The Port of Matadi is starting to take off, after losing up to 40%
of its berthing capacity. New initiatives begin to come forward that
are geared towards the development of traffics.
Repair works on the Quai
de Venise, with the support of the port of Antwerp, have given
excellent results. Located outside Quays 1 to 10,
it will be fully operational from next February. This quay will be
designed mostly for fresh products. Quays 1-4 are currently being
renovated and will not be operational before early 2008. For the moment,
conventional
vessels are hosted at quays 6 to 10.
Uncertainties which existed during
the pre and post electoral period have proved unfounded. A climate
of stability has instead prevailed,
benefiting the whole port environment. ONATRA has ordered new equipments
consisting of straddle carriers, large and small forklifts as well
as container-ship chassis.
Inspection Procedure For Import Cargo -
01/01/07
Following a ministerial decree [no 106] all cargo entering DRC from
01/01/07 [loading date] must be inspected by Bureau Veritas prior
to departure. For further information on these regulations please
view OTAL’s
website [French only]
Contacts
and Links
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Matadi Port
Office National des Transports [Onatra]
Port
de Matad
i
BP242
Tel: (+243) 232530
Operates ports and also the railways under agreement with Congo Railroad
Company (CNC) or the Société Nationale des Chemins de
Fer du Congo (SNCC).
Banana Port Authority
Office National des Transports
Bandundo
Kinshasa
Congo (Democratic Republic)
Tel: (+243) 1 522 4761
Fax: (+243) 1 522 2892
Telex: 21017
