Acting on the High Instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan launched operations on Saturday at the first container terminal of the Nador West Med port, in the commune of Ia\u00e2zzan\u00e8ne, Nador province.<\/p>\n
The launch of the “East” terminal marks the opening phase in bringing the Nador West Med industrial and port complex into service. Public and private investment in the complex totals MAD 54 billion.<\/p>\n
During the ceremony, the Crown Prince gave the signal for the first container to be unloaded from a commercial vessel at the East terminal, marking the shift from building the infrastructure to running it.<\/p>\n
Investment in the East terminal reached around MAD 5 billion. It has a 1,520-metre quay, a water depth of 18 metres and 70 hectares of platform. By 2030, it is expected to handle up to 3.5 million containers.<\/p>\n
Operation and maintenance of the terminal were granted for 25 years to a consortium of Marsa Maroc, described as Africa’s fourth-largest container terminal operator, and Terminal Investment Limited, a subsidiary of the MSC group, the world’s largest container shipping line.<\/p>\n
Diego Aponte, chairman and CEO of the MSC\/Terminal Investment Limited group, called the port “a major project” that strengthens Morocco’s position as a maritime hub. Speaking to the press at the launch, he said the start of activity at this “magnificent achievement” was “a great moment” for his group, adding that the East terminal will be able to receive 24,000 TEU container ships, among the largest cargo vessels in the world.<\/p>\n
A second container facility, the West terminal, has a capacity of 1.8 million twenty-foot equivalent units and has been awarded to a consortium of Marsa Maroc and CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest container carrier. The terminal requires MAD 3 billion in investment and covers 900 metres of quays and 38 hectares of platform. It is expected to start operating in April 2027, bringing the port’s total container capacity to 5.3 million.<\/p>\n
Several other terminals are planned for the complex.<\/p>\n
A general cargo terminal will cover 22 hectares and handle 3 million tonnes, with operations planned for December 2028. A dry bulk terminal with a capacity of 7 million tonnes is expected to be ready in June 2027. A ro-ro terminal with a capacity of 400,000 units and a 380-metre quay was handed over in September 2026.<\/p>\n
An energy hub is also planned. It will include a liquefied natural gas terminal with a capacity of 5 billion cubic metres and a 360-metre quay, along with a hydrocarbons terminal with a capacity of 25 million tonnes and three 125-metre berths, due to begin operating from April 2027.<\/p>\n
The complex is expected to create 14,000 direct jobs and 20,000 indirect jobs in the near term, particularly for young people. It also includes a 700-hectare industrial and logistics platform backed by MAD 12 billion in private investment. In line with the Royal High Instructions, training programmes tailored to the new activities will be accelerated to help young people find work.<\/p>\n
Two transport links will connect the site to the rest of the region: a 49-kilometre railway between Selouane and Nador West Med, and a 105-kilometre motorway starting from the city of Guercif.<\/p>\n
Nador West Med builds on the momentum created by the Tanger Med port, part of a strategy to give the Kingdom diverse and competitive port infrastructure. On the Atlantic coast, the Dakhla Atlantic port project aims to give Sahel countries access to international markets.<\/p>\n
On arrival, the Crown Prince reviewed a detachment of the Royal Guard before being greeted by several officials.<\/p>\n
These included the Minister of Economy and Finance, the Minister of Equipment and Water, and the Minister of Industry and Trade. The Wali of the Oriental region, the governor of Nador province and executives from Marsa Maroc and the MSC\/Terminal Investment Limited group were also present.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan launched Nador West Med’s first container terminal, part of a port complex backed by MAD 54 billion in investment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":8937,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[6317,6373,6375,6143],"class_list":["post-8938","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economie","tag-abraz-al-anawin","tag-crown-prince-moulay-el-hassan","tag-mediterranean-shipping-company","tag-nador-west-med-port"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t