Côte d’Ivoire - New terminal for cement commodities

A new multi-purpose industrial terminal is currently under construction in the Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), with Phase I set to complete by the end of this year.

The TIPSP (Terminal Industriel Polyvalent de San Pedro) is a strategic partnership between ARISE P&L, S. Energies and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire. The project is an integral part of the extension of the Port Autonome de San Pedro that began in May 2019. The construction work is moving ahead at a steady pace and will be completed in 2021. “Close to 600 direct jobs have already been created during this construction phase. Once in operation, the port will employ 120 people and create many more indirect jobs in and around San Pedro.”

While this article will focus on its cement handling capabilities, the TIPSP will handle a wide variety of solid and liquid bulk cargoes (including hydrocarbons).

Cement: clinker, gypsum and limestone

The Port Autonome de San Pedro has two major cement factories in the vicinity of the new terminal. Today, the cement factories receive their raw materials in bulk vessels which can only berth at a floating pontoon. Cargo is then unloaded using ship cranes into hoppers and from there on conveyor belts either to the factory or to another hopper for truck delivery to the cement factory warehouse.

This system is suboptimal as the available draught at the pontoon is only 10 to 11m, which limits the amount of cargo the ships can carry (approximately 42,000 tonnes). The equipment used for the discharge of the cargo (ships’ cranes) and delivery of the cargo (low-capacity conveyor belt and/or truck) impose relatively longer vessel port stay. Ultimately, these limitations translate into a higher transportation cost for the cement operators.

Draught optimized

The new terminal of TIPSP will offer a dramatically increased draught of 15m. This, combined with the new quay of 270m, will allow the cement factories to receive Panamax vessels carrying 50% to 100% more cargo in a single voyage.

Equipped for speed and efficiency

The terminal will also be equipped with two powerful Liebherr 550 mobile harbour cranes. These will unload onto quay-length conveyor belts that will transport the cargoes directly to the port’s distribution tower. The two cement factories will then connect their own conveyor belts to the terminal distribution tower for direct delivery into their warehouses for greater efficiency and environmental sustainability.

All these factors combine to ensure an efficient, safe and reliable system that can triple the current productivity. TIPSP will offer a minimum discharge rate of 11,500 tonnes per day and is designed and equipped to deliver higher productivity based on the customer´s own needs and ability to receive cargo. With this new conventional terminal, customers will experience a considerably shorter turnaround time of their vessels at the terminal, no congestion/waiting at anchorage and a deeper draught while contributing to environmental sustainability.