The APM Terminal (APMT) in Apapa, Lagos may have set a target of about 720,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs)  to be handled at the terminal this year, as against the 650,000 TEUs handled last year.

The Managing Director of APM Terminals, Mr Dallas Hampton, who disclosed this last week in his office, however, lamented that the cost of generating power at the terminal has been very high, prompting his company to make new investment, as a necessity, to ensure uninterrupted power supply.

Stressing that his facility had gradually evolved into the largest mobile harbour crane-operated terminal and the largest container terminal in West Africa, the terminal boss highlighted that it had also employed over 900 Nigerians, who were being meticulously trained to enable them become competent for emerging strategic management positions.

“There are minimal expatriates working in the firm,” observed Hampton, noting that his organisation was satisfied that about 99 per cent of the workforce was made up of Nigerians.

“With the investment that we have planned, the terminal will soon become one of the most productive mobile harbour crane terminals in the world,” the APMT boss stated, adding that his company has placed order for 10 new Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes, which, according to him, are the most fuel-efficient and environment-friendly available.

“We have very few people on ground and we’re working on having fewer people on ground at the terminal, all geared at ensuring safety,” he indicated, stressing that that safety of workers remained a top priority at the terminal.

On the issue of corporate social responsibility, the APMT boss said that his company was already undertaking extensive charity programmes  within the host community.

“We sponsor scholarships in schools and also support one of the secondary schools in Apapa. This year, we are sponsoring 50 scholarships and have recently rehabilitated and computerised Randle Secondary School in Apapa. We support our host community as much as possible,” Hampton said.

APMT took over operation at the Apapa Container Terminal in March 2006 after emerging as the preferred bidder following a competitive bidding exercise handled by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).