Accra, Nov. 4, GNA-His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan has launched operations at the first container terminal of Nador West Med Port, a key facility within the Kingdom’s MAD 54 billion industrial-port complex.
The launch of operations at the “East” container terminal reflects the particular importance attached by HM King Mohammed VI to the development of strategic national infrastructure as a driver of economic transformation and the emergence of new industrial, logistics and economic growth hubs across the Kingdom.
The new terminal, which features 1,520 metres of quay, an 18-metre draft and 70 hectares of storage yard space, is expected to reach a handling capacity of 3.5 million containers by 2030.
Developed through investments estimated at around MAD 5 billion, the facility has been granted under a 25-year concession to a consortium comprising MarsaMaroc and Terminal Investment Limited (TIL), a subsidiary of the MSC Group.
The Nador West Med complex will also include a second container terminal, known as the “West” terminal, with a handling capacity of 1.8 million TEUs.
Operated by a consortium of MarsaMaroc and CMA CGM under a concession agreement involving investments of about MAD 3 billion, the terminal is scheduled to become operational in April 2027.
Once completed, total container handling capacity at the port will reach 5.3 million TEUs.
In addition to container facilities, the complex will comprise a general cargo terminal with a capacity of 3 million tonnes, expected to begin operations in December 2028, a bulk cargo terminal capable of handling 7 million tonnes by June 2027, and a roll-on/roll-off terminal with capacity for 400,000 units, due for delivery in September 2026.
Nador West Med will further host a major energy hub featuring a liquefied natural gas terminal with an annual capacity of 5 billion cubic metres, alongside a hydrocarbon terminal capable of handling 25 million tonnes.
Designed as a catalyst for economic development, the industrial-port complex is expected to generate 14,000 direct jobs and 20,000 indirect jobs in the short term, particularly benefiting young people.
It also includes a 700-hectare industrial and logistics zone that has already attracted MAD 12 billion in private investment.
To strengthen regional integration and connectivity, the project is being supported by complementary infrastructure developments, including a 49-kilometre railway linking Selouane to Nador West Med and a 105-kilometre motorway connection extending from Guercif.
During the visit, HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan launched the first unloading operation of a container from a commercial vessel at the “East” terminal, symbolising the beginning of commercial operations at the strategic port platform.
Nador West Med is part of Morocco’s broader strategy to expand its role in international maritime trade linking the Mediterranean basin, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
The project complements the momentum generated by the Tanger Med port complex and aligns with national efforts to establish world-class port infrastructure and strengthen the Kingdom’s position as a leading logistics hub.
The initiative also forms part of a wider vision that includes the Dakhla Atlantique project along Morocco’s Atlantic coast, aimed at reinforcing the country’s regional integration and enhancing access to global markets for Sahel countries.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade