International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) said it has added four new hybrid and automated rubber-tired gantries (RTG) to its Congo operation, Matadi Gateway Terminal (MGT), to strengthen its operational capacity.
The acquisition expands the terminal’s RTG fleet to eight units, and is part of MGT’s commitment to support the country’s economic growth, ICTSI said in a statement.
“After commissioning, the RTGs will further improve yard productivity and afford the terminal added flexibility to handle offer more solutions in handling increasing cargo volume,” it added.
Timothee Jeannin, MGT general manager, said the additional cranes will improve vessel and truck turnaround times, leading to faster services and enhanced safety standards.
“These modern equipment also reduce the risk of technical failures by distributing the workload more effectively, guaranteeing more reliable and continuous operation,” he said.
To further consolidate its position as a key trade gateway for D.R. Congo, MGT has also initiated civil works to further improve efficiency and enhance customer experience, which include the construction of 2.65-kilometer road linking the Port of Matadi to key transport routes, expansion of the storage yard to accommodate growing cargo volumes, and extension of parking facilities, according to Jeannin.
“These infrastructure upgrades are expected to streamline cargo movement, prevent congestion, and support MGT’s long-term growth,” he said.
ICTSI has been operating the 175,000-twenty equivalent unit (TEU) and 350,000 tons of general cargo-capacity MTG since 2016.
ICTSI entered a joint venture agreement with La Société De Gestion Immobilière Lengo (SIMOBILE) to develop a container and general cargo terminal on along the river bank of the Congo River at Mbengu Matadi, Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2014.
ICTSI and SIMOBILE formed a joint venture company, Matadi Gateway Terminal to operate and manage the facility. SIMOBILE is a concessionaire of a parcel of land along the Congo river in the district of Mbengu, Township of Matadi in the Democratic Republic of Congo, intended for port use.
