Senegal: Official Launch of the Construction of the Infrastructure of the New Port of Ndayane
An ambitious project in concrete phase
The construction of the deep-water port of Ndayane in Senegal is finally entering a decisive phase. After the laying of the foundation stone in 2022, only the common maritime infrastructure and the container terminal had been partially completed. Now, DP World and the Dakar Port Authority have officially launched the actual construction of the infrastructure of this new port complex, marking a crucial step in this strategic project.
A major investment for Senegal
The project, estimated to cost nearly USD 1.2 billion, will be developed in two phases and is expected to be completed by 2026. In addition to the port facilities, the project includes the establishment of an economic zone close to Blaise Diagne International Airport, thereby strengthening the integration of transport infrastructure in Senegal. This deep-water port is intended to overcome the limitations of the port of Dakar, which, due to its river location and limited capacity, can no longer accommodate large ships.
Meeting growing demand
Faced with a sharp increase in maritime traffic, the construction of the port of Ndayane appears to be a necessity. The port of Dakar, which saw its annual traffic increase from 5 million tonnes in 1994 to 22.4 million tonnes in 2022, is suffering from increasing saturation. The volume of containerized freight has also increased significantly, from 265,000 TEUs in 2008 to 738,000 TEUs in 2022. Due to this overload, the port’s performance has plummeted, placing it in 381st position out of 405 in the World Bank ranking.
A key component of the new port ecosystem
The Port of Ndayane is part of a comprehensive plan by the Senegalese government to modernize and expand the entire national port network. This plan includes improving existing infrastructure and building new commercial, fishing, and recreational ports, as well as ship repair facilities and connecting the ports to the railway network. The Ndayane project thus plays a central role in Senegal’s maritime development vision.
Conclusion
The official launch of construction work on the Ndayane deep-water port represents a key milestone in strengthening Senegal’s port capacity. With modern infrastructure, the new port will help relieve congestion at the Port of Dakar and meet the growing demand for maritime traffic, while supporting the country’s economic growth and its ambition to become a major maritime hub in West Africa.
