Ten things you need to know about the new port of Dakhla Atlantique in Morocco – Morocco looks to Africa and the rest of the international trade trough the new port infrastructure. To learn more about the progress of the Blue Economy in the region, here are 10 essential facts to know about this important project.
This new infrastructure is intended to be a “Tangier Med” for the South, which should help to strengthen trade relations with the rest of the continent (in view of its role in unlocking the economic potential of the southern provinces and bolstering ties with Sub-Saharan Africa), but also with the rest of the world, as it will offer opportunities in terms of trade routes. Moroccan authorities have previously announced plans to set up free industrial zones to attract investments that shall benefit from the deep-water port.
1. Royal support
The new port of Dakhla Atlantique should be a “game changer” for the Dakhla region. The result of King Mohammed VI will, in the southern provinces. It was part of a development plan covering not only the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region not only the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region but also the Laâyoune-Sakia Al Hamra.
2. A massive budget
The budget allocated to the port of Dakhla Atlantique is 12.5 billion dirhams ($1 bln investment). “This cost includes the financing of port and access infrastructures. In addition, there will be investments linked to the preparation for the start-up phase. Private investment by future concessionaires as part of the infrastructure financing.
3. 40 kilometres from Dakhla
The new port of Dakhla Atlantique will not be located in Dakhla City but in the municipality of Al Argoub, 40 kilometres further north of Dakhla (the touristic pearl of the South). The site was chosen in particular because of the the “nautical conditions” it offers. The location of the port, as well as the activity it is expected to generate, should help to relieve congestion in the town and turn it into a centre for green tourism.
4. An integrated port
The port is part of a more general development plan that will infrastructure in the region. At the port of Dakhla Atlantique is already linked to Route nationale National Route 1 (RN1), which links Tangier in the north to Guerguerat in the south including the Tiznit-Dakhla expressway, on which work is almost completed.
5. A Moroccan partnership for the project
The Moroccan consortium SGTM-SOMAGEC has won the contract, in August 2021, the invitation to tender issued by the Ministry of the construction of the new port of Dakhla Atlantique. The Moroccan duo’s bid won out construction companies from Greece, Egypt and France.
6. An ongoing project
Work on the new port of Dakhla Atlantique has already begun following a preparatory phase that includes detailed studies site installations and quarry approvals.
7. 2,500 jobs created… for now
The New Dakhla Atlantic Port (NEADP) project alone has created nearly 2,500 direct and indirect jobs. However, the Ports Authority predicts that this figure will increase this figure due to the activity generated around the infrastructure. infrastructure:
“NEPAD will undoubtedly have a strong positive impact positive impact on the socio-economic front, in terms of job creation companies, new investment and a restructuring of regional investment and restructuring of regional GDP”.
8. A port… but not only
We shouldn’t be talking about the port of Dakhla Atlantique, but rather the Dakhla Atlantic port complex. Because an industrial the port. With a total surface area of 2650 hectares, this industrial zone will include seafood products competitiveness cluster (200 ha), a shared services services hub (65 ha), a logistics hub (150 ha), a general industrial zone (150 ha) and a showcase zone 25 ha. And this zone should further strengthen the already trade relationship between Morocco and the rest of the African continent, particularly West Africa and the Sahel region. The West Africa Free Zone is a trading platform that will have the status of a free zone, in order to increase trade with the rest of the continent.
9. Commissioning by 2029
Work on the port of Dakhla Atlantique should be completed in 2028, while the first terminals should come into service in 2029.
10. One of the largest ports in the Kingdom
According to forecasts by the Ports Authority, the new port of Dakhla Atlantique should eventually generate annual traffic of 35 million tonnes. By way of comparison, the port of Casablanca generates an annual traffic of 27 million tonnes, in Tanger Med generates annual traffic of over 100 million tonnes.
Ten things you need to know about the new port of Dakhla Atlantique in Morocco
