January 22 - According to reports in the local press, the minimum investment to construct and outfit a Freeport for Monrovia, Liberia, will be at least USD200 million. This price tag includes the construction infrastructure costs and port equipment provis
A potential bidder, the Bollore Group, a Paris-based French investment and paper-energy-plantations-logistics conglomerate, is reported to have offered USD210m to kickstart the project. The investment will cover USD100m for equipment, USD60m for construction and infrastructure and USD50m for civil works, training and associated plant.
The Bollore Group is reported to have said that it wants to make the port of Monrovia equal existing ports such as the port of Abidjan, the most functional, up to date and profitable port in West Africa, where it has had interests since 2004.
The Group is one of two companies bidding to operate and maintain the Freeport of Monrovia. It is basing its bid on having a wide range of experience and know-how of break bulk, timber products, bulk, vehicle, project, oil and gas-related cargo handling virtually, across many African ports within its global network.
