The port of Tadjourah is positioned to handle import cargoes including fertilizer, grain, construction materials, as well as mineral exports from Ethiopia.
by Blue Africa News
The government of Djibouti has signed a framework agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT), laying the groundwork for a potential 30-year concession to develop and operate the Port of Tadjourah in the country’s north-central region.
Recently formalized in Jeddah by Kamil Mohamed Gorah, chairman of the Port of Tadjourah, and Gagan Seksaria, Director of Investments at RSGTI, the agreement is founded on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in March 2025, which paved the way for negotiations on a concession agreement.
“This agreement marks a major step toward transforming Tadjourah into a world-class, multi-purpose port with a capacity of 5 million tons annually,” said RSGT.
Developments at the port will include a dedicated free zone, “positioning Tadjourah as a strategic gateway for the growing markets of Djibouti, Ethiopia, and the wider region.”
The port is being positioned to handle import cargoes including fertilizer, grain, construction materials, as well as mineral exports from Ethiopia, notably potash.
The Port of Tadjourah became operational in June 2017, with its focus on supporting potash export.
According to Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority, the port of Tadjourah features two berths of 435m length and 12m depth, a 30-hectare area, including a state-of-the-art potash handling system and a 190m RoRo quay.
The port’s total investment is US$90 million, enabling it to handle up to 2,000 tonnes of potash per hour, and up to 4 million tonnes a year.
Signing of the agreement, reported the Addis Standard, coincided with plans to expand multi-modal transport links between Ethiopia and northern Djibouti.
In October, the Ethiopian Railway Corporation announced a US$1.58 billion project to construct a standard-gauge railway connecting northern Ethiopia to the Red Sea ports of Tadjourah, Assab and Massawa in neighbouring Eritrea.
Oliver Ochieng, Blue Africa News