EXPANSION PROJECT FOR THE MULTINATIONAL BITUMEN COMPANY. NEGOTIATIONS UNDERWAY FOR SPACE ON THE PORT DOMAIN

Activités portuaires Thursday 17 August 2023

With a view to expanding the activities of Société Multinationale de Bitumes (SMB) to meet the growing demand for tar in Côte d'Ivoire and the sub-region, the Director General, Mrs Marie Joséphine Sidibé was granted an audience with the Managing Director of the Abidjan Port Authority (PAA), Mr Hien Yacouba SIÉ, on 24 May 2023 at the PAA.

The meeting was an opportunity for SMB's Director General to present her company's activities and missions, and to request a space on the port's premises. This request is justified by the very strong demand for bitumen, induced by the economic recovery initiated by Côte d'Ivoire since 2012, and which is materializing in numerous construction sites throughout the country specifically the construction of roads.

To meet this growing demand, SMB needs more space to create storage bins. Two sites adjacent to SMB's current depot have been identified. It was in order to submit these proposals to the port authority that Mrs. Marie Joséphine SIDIBÉ met with the PAA’s Managing Director.

Mr. Hien Yacouba SIÉ began by welcoming the fact that the resurgence of activity in the bitumen sector in Côte d'Ivoire and the sub-region was having a positive impact on the Abidjan Port's results. Given the urgency of the request, he hoped that the technical directors of the two structures (PAA and SMB) would quickly set up working sessions to make satisfactory proposals as soon as possible.