On the morning of July 20, 2026, a crane was lifting the first batch of dock components at a construction site along the coast of the Dande Free Trade Zone in Angola. The local worker Jo ã o, who is supervising the site, heard that a deep-water dock capable of accommodating 80000 ton ships is about to be built on this coastline. And in the Huatong Aluminum Industrial Park a few kilometers away, the production line is continuously processing bauxite into aluminum ingots - in the past, these finished products had to bypass external ports for export, but now the dock in front of our own house is finally about to start construction. On the same day, the Dande Comprehensive Development Free Trade Zone officially signed two investment agreements with a total amount of 900 million US dollars. Huatong and Berkshire Hathaway joined forces to promote the port and supporting infrastructure simultaneously, connecting the last mile of the aluminum industry chain from raw material imports to finished product exports.

900 million US dollars investment locked in dock and supporting infrastructure

On July 20, 2026, Angola's Dande Comprehensive Development Free Trade Zone signed two investment agreements totaling 900 million US dollars. The granting party is Dande Comprehensive Development Co., Ltd., and the undertaking party has a clear division of labor: Huatong Angola Industrial Co., Ltd. is responsible for the subcontracting and franchising of the terminal operation, with an investment of about 450 million US dollars. The terminal design can accommodate ships of up to 80000 tons, and the subcontracting and franchising period is 25 years, which can be renewed according to the business results and commercial feasibility. The project will be implemented in three phases, with the first phase lasting 24 months and the second and third phases planned to be completed between 2029 and 2030. Berkshire Water Infrastructure Development Company is responsible for the supporting infrastructure sector of the park, covering roads, water supply, energy, storage yards, and customs clearance systems. The total amount of the two agreements reaches 900 million US dollars. Berkshire's participation means that water infrastructure has been incorporated into the overall plan, ensuring that the port is synchronized with the rear infrastructure.

Huatong extends from the aluminum plant owner to the dock operator

It is not accidental that Huatong Angola Industrial Co., Ltd. appears on the list of contractors in the terminal operation agreement. The first phase of Huatong's aluminum industry park in Dande has been put into operation, and the expansion contract for the second phase has also been handed over to Chinese engineering companies. The aluminum industry is a typical large-scale import and export industry. Raw bauxite needs to be transported from overseas, while finished aluminum ingots and products need to be shipped out. Port efficiency directly determines the operational efficiency and cost competitiveness of factories. Previously, the logistics of Huatong Aluminum Industrial Park relied on external ports. Now, Huatong directly participates in the subcontracting and franchising of port operations, transforming from a factory owner to a co builder of the port. The 25 year franchise rights mean that Huatong's control in Dande extends from the factory walls to the front of the dock. The port agreement thus becomes a supporting project for the industrial chain, where raw materials need to come in, finished products need to go out, and energy, roads, yards, shipping routes, and customs clearance capabilities need to keep up. The value of this agreement depends on whether Dande can convert industrial capacity into stable cargo flow. Keywords: Infrastructure News Network, Logistics

Dande Free Trade Zone moves towards integration of port, industry and city

The Dande Comprehensive Development Free Trade Zone is becoming the core platform for Angola's industrialization. In 2025, the Dande Free Trade Zone has been approved, covering an area of approximately 1700 hectares, developed by the Angolan government through private investment and public-private partnership models, with the aim of creating industrial, commercial, and service centers that attract domestic and foreign investment. Prior to this, Dande had signed an investment of approximately one billion US dollars, including a 600000 barrel per day refinery and a 300000 ton per year urea fertilizer plant. Huatong Aluminum Industrial Park was one of the earliest industrial projects to be put into operation in Dande Free Trade Zone. The signing of the $900 million port agreement marks a crucial step for the Dande Free Trade Zone to move from an industrial cluster to an integrated port, industry, and city. The 80000 ton dock, a 25 year franchise, and a 24 month first phase construction period, when combined, outline a clear development path. From thermal power to photovoltaic expansion, from factory construction to port operation, the investment model of Chinese enterprises in Africa is upgrading from single capacity output to a closed-loop of the entire industry chain. The steady progress of the project is a vivid portrayal of the landing of the Belt and Road Africa industrialization cooperation in Angola. When the port is fully completed, it will thoroughly open the raw material import and finished product export channels of Huatong Aluminum Industrial Park, reduce logistics costs, improve industrial competitiveness, and continue to empower Angola's economic and social development and industrialization process.Editor/Gao Xue