Lomé Container Terminal Completes €7.5M at Lomé Port

Logistics

Monday, 22 September 2025 16:15

Lomé Container Terminal Completes €7.5M at Lomé Port

Highlights:

Access channel deepened to 18.6m, turning circle widened to 550m.
Part of €120m investment plan to raise capacity to 2.5m TEUs by 2027.
Port seeks to stay ahead of growing Gulf of Guinea competition.

The Lomé Container Terminal (LCT) has completed dredging works worth €7.5 million ($8m), enabling the port to handle fully loaded vessels of up to 24,000 TEUs. An official ceremony to celebrate the completion was held on September 19, 2025, attended by port officials, customs representatives, and government delegates.

5487lct dragage

The project, carried out from July 31 to September 16, deepened the access channel to 18.6 meters and expanded the turning circle to 550 meters.

LCT, a joint venture between China Merchants Port Holdings and MSC’s Terminal Investment Limited, said the dredging is part of a €120 million infrastructure and equipment program running through 2027. The plan also includes dock reinforcement, upgraded fendering systems, and two new ship-to-shore cranes.

IM2

“These works are part of an €80 billion CFA franc investment program designed to handle new-generation ships and raise annual capacity from 2 million to 2.5 million TEUs,” said Tim Vancampen, Managing Director of LCT.

The expansion is expected to generate 150 direct jobs while strengthening Lomé’s position as a transshipment hub.

The investments come amid mounting competition in the Gulf of Guinea, where Tema, Abidjan, Lagos and Lekki are vying for traffic. Analysts note that Lomé retains an edge in depth and transshipment, but long-term differentiation will depend on faster port calls, efficient customs systems and stronger feeder links to the Sahel.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

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