As part of the project on the second container terminal in the Port of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire Terminal has placed an order for 36 electric towing vehicles from the manufacturer Gaussin. The new handling machines will equip the future container terminal, construction work on which was launched in October 2020 by Côte d’Ivoire Terminal.
The order, for a total of €9.9 million (6.5 billion CFA francs), is one of the commitments made by the leading shareholders of Côte d’Ivoire Terminal, Bolloré Ports and APM Terminals as part of the public-private partnership signed with the Côte d’Ivoire authorities. It is notably part of the objective to make the new port a pioneer in eco-responsibility.
The electric towing vehicles, to be delivered in late 2021, are 100% electric and emit no CO2 emissions or noise pollution. They serve to reduce the cost of energy consumed at terminals by 70%. Powered by LMP batteries by Blue Solutions, the new handling machines offer greater reliability, range and safety.
“This electric equipment, combined with the efforts to protect biodiversity, will shrink the carbon footprint of our business activities. This is a priority for us. The aim of Côte d’Ivoire Terminal is to innovate and accelerate its energy transition with the support of the Autonomous Port of Abidjan. The success of the initial electric towing vehicles rolled out by Gaussin at other port terminals in Africa bears out the relevance of our choice,” said Koen De Backker, Managing Director of Côte d’Ivoire Terminal.
