SENEGAL – Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) has partnered with the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF) to invest US$15 million in a local currency capital market bond issue by Senegal’s Port Autonome de Dakar (PAD), owner of the Port of Dakar.
The issue marks the start of the process of relocating the capital city’s port and its operations to a new greenfield site. The bond raised over US$107 million.
The proceeds of the PAD bond will help fund phases one, two and three of the move of the port of Dakar from the centre of the city to a deep water port location 35 km by sea and 70 km by road from the existing site.
The port will be part of the new special economic zone that includes Dakar’s international airport, which opened in 2017. New and upgraded road and rail links will connect the port and airport to Dakar and into the regional transport network.
“The new port will help make Senegal a more competitive international economy and have benefits for the whole of West Africa.”
Roland Janssens – Directors, Ninety-One
The seven-year bonds will have a coupon rate of 6.60%. Financial close (the transfer of funds from EAIF to Port Autonome de Dakar) took place on 13th October. The bond was issued on the regional UEMOA stock exchange.
“Supporting enterprise zones around major ports is a core strategic economic development objective of PIDG and EAIF. So too is contributing towards strengthening local capital markets,” Roland Janssens, Director, EAIF’s Managers, Ninety-One said.
“Port Autonome de Dakar is to be congratulated on its vision and ambition. The new port will help make Senegal a more competitive international economy and have benefits for the whole of West Africa.”
The current port at Dakar has evolved over the past 150 years and is now reaching the end of its productive life as global shipping demands deeper water, custom-built facilities for specialist cargoes and fast turnaround times.
Senegal’s new port at Popinguine-Ndayane will cover an area of 1200 hectares. Offering deep water capable of taking very large ships with a draught of up to 16.5 meters, it is being purpose built to respond to shipping market needs.
“Creating a great new port to serve west African economies on a new site is one of the foundation stones of building a more successful, more prosperous and greener future for Senegal,” Aboubacar Sedikh BEYE, Managing Director, Port Autonome de Dakar said.
“It is of great benefit to Port Autonome de Dakar to have EAIF and PIDG supporting us in this venture. They bring deep expertise of financing African infrastructure and share with us a vision of long-term investment delivering a legacy of economic and social progress.”
The project is forecast to have a ten to fifteen-year construction period. It is part of the Government of Senegal’s economic development plan that will take the country to 2035. Relocation will free up valuable waterside land in Dakar city.
Among the benefits of ending most port activities in the city centre will be greatly reduced road traffic congestion, lower pollution from road traffic emissions and the stimulus of new economic activity in the land vacated by the port.
“As a regional specialist in capital markets, Invictus is proud it was able to use its expertise and local knowledge to help at the birth of such an important infrastructure development for Senegal and West Africa. The success of the issue is an encouraging sign of the attractiveness of Senegal to international investors,” said El Hadji Mbacké Fall CEO, Invictus Capital & Finance, lead arranger of the bond issue
Dakar’s existing port employs some 1,800 people. PAD estimates that an additional 400 jobs will be created when the port relocates. The construction phase is expected to bring work to some 3,000 people.
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