The deep-sea port of Banana, a flagship project of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), aims to enhance the country’s economic competitiveness by providing direct access to the Atlantic Ocean. Launched in January 2022, the project was initially scheduled for completion by the end of 2025. However, as of early 2025, the construction has experienced delays, although significant progress was recorded after a temporary suspension in 2024.
Progress of the Works: Key Infrastructures Already Completed
Despite the encountered setbacks, several key infrastructures have been completed:
The protective dike, designed to safeguard the site from tides and erosion, reached 88% completion by June 2023, with 1,543 meters out of the planned 1,742 meters constructed.
The first phase of the project also includes the construction of a 600-meter quay and the development of a 25-hectare storage area, intended to handle more than 300,000 containers annually.
Challenges Encountered and Resumption of Works
In 2024, the project was temporarily halted due to technical and financial disputes between the Congolese government and DP World, the operator in charge of the construction. A meeting held in October 2024, led by Vice Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba, helped resolve the issues and facilitated the resumption of the works.
In addition, several measures were undertaken to ensure the continuation of the project:
- Government financial support: In December 2023, an envelope of 30 billion Congolese francs (approximately 12 million USD) was allocated.
- Foreign investment: In July 2024, British International Investment (BII) injected an additional 35 million USD, complementing the contributions of DP World, which holds 70% ownership of the project, with 30% belonging to the Congolese state.
Outlook and New Expected Timeline
Although the initial completion date was set for late 2025, accumulated delays make this deadline challenging to meet. A new official timeline has not yet been announced. Nonetheless, Congolese authorities and financial partners remain committed to accelerating the pace of the works to deliver an operational infrastructure as soon as possible.
Once completed, the Banana port will reduce the DRC’s dependence on foreign ports, particularly those while boosting foreign trade and creating up to 85,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The deep-sea port of Banana remains a crucial project for the economic development of the DRC. As of January 1st, 2025, despite observed delays, the resumption of works and the combined efforts of the government and its partners offer hope for the imminent completion of this strategic infrastructure.
This project symbolizes the DRC’s ambition to become a major player in trade across Central Africa and beyond.
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