Pointe-Noire port concession meeting opens 2026
POINTE-NOIRE, Jan. 13 (ACI) — The monitoring committee for the concession contract covering bulk and conventional terminals, as well as towing services, held its first meeting of 2026 on Jan. 12 in Pointe-Noire. The session reviewed how the concession is being implemented under a “win-win” approach.
The committee brings together representatives of the Port autonome de Pointe-Noire (PAPN) and Alport, a subsidiary of the Turkish group Albayrak. According to ACI, the committee meets at the initiative of the party considered the most proactive in moving the file forward.
PAPN and Alport stress a “win-win” method
PAPN Director General Séraphin Bhalat said the agreement signed between PAPN and Alport provides for two meetings each year to assess the situation and identify corrective measures. The objective, he said, is to ensure the contract is carried out in a “win-win” spirit (ACI).
Alport Director General Yunus Yilmas shared the same perspective during the meeting, speaking along the same lines as PAPN’s leadership, ACI reported. The tone underscored an intention to keep dialogue regular as operational issues are clarified.
Key project issues discussed at Pointe-Noire port
Participants discussed several points linked to implementation. Among them were the unavailability of the concessionaire’s strategic development plan, and the fact that works for the “firm phase” had not started, according to the same source (ACI).
The meeting also examined the status of agreements located within the perimeter conceded to Alport. In practice, this topic relates to how pre-existing arrangements are handled alongside the concession’s scope and responsibilities, as raised during the exchanges (ACI).
Fees, transfers, and reimbursements on the agenda
Beyond the operational questions, other subjects were addressed at the close of the session. These included clarifying concession royalties and clarifying royalties that have been transferred, ACI reported.
The committee also discussed reimbursement of expenses incurred for paying salaries of transferred staff, as well as loans granted to transferred employees. The issues were reviewed as part of the broader follow-up aimed at keeping the concession’s terms clear for both parties (ACI).
A 25-year concession signed in 2024
ACI recalled that the concession contract was signed in 2024 for the management and operation of bulk and conventional cargo traffic, alongside towing services at the Port of Pointe-Noire. The agreement binds PAPN and Alport for a duration of 25 years.
For local businesses and port users, the follow-up meetings are a key moment to take stock of implementation steps and identify adjustments. Officials presented the committee as a practical tool for monitoring commitments over time within the framework of the 2024 agreement (ACI).