Key facts
- The Port Authority of Douala and Afisa Food Industry completed eight grain silos at the Port of Douala-Bonabéri.
- The new complex adds 40,000 tons of grain storage capacity.
- Each silo has a capacity of 5,000 tons.
- The facility is designed to shorten vessel unloading times.
- A Vigan suction system can extract grain at up to 600 tons per hour.
- Afisa is expected to operate the facility for about 20 years.
The Port Authority of Douala (PAD) and Afisa Food Industry have completed the development of eight grain silos at the Port of Douala-Bonabéri, significantly increasing the port's grain storage capacity by 40,000 tons. This new facility is intended to expedite vessel unloading processes and provide essential storage for Afisa's food-processing operations.
Each of the eight silos can hold 5,000 tons of cereals. Under the agreement, Afisa, a subsidiary of Sudan's Elnefeidi Group, will manage the facility for approximately 20 years before its transfer back to PAD. The complex features a Vigan suction system designed to extract grain directly from ships' holds at a rate of up to 600 tons per hour. This is expected to reduce grain vessel unloading times to less than three days, thereby freeing up berth space more quickly for other maritime traffic.
The enhanced storage infrastructure supports Afisa's growing grain-processing capacity in Cameroon. Previously, grain handling at the port was primarily concentrated around facilities used by Grand Moulin Cameroun. The new silos represent a major addition to the cereal handling capabilities at Douala-Bonabéri, aligning with PAD's broader 2020-2050 plan to boost overall cargo handling capacity to 23 million tons by 2030 and 45 million tons by 2050. This project is part of a strategic effort to improve cargo handling and storage, strengthening the supply chain links between imported agricultural commodities, processing plants, and distribution networks.