Saudi Arabian company Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) is set to become the operator of the Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) in Chittagong Port, according to the final decision made by the Bangladesh government.

The appointment process is currently being handled by the Private Public Partnership (PPP) authority, with the Ministry of Shipping expected to announce the operator soon, confirmed CPA Secretary Omar Faruk.

To assist in the appointment process, the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has enlisted the services of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) as the Transaction Advisor (TA) to establish the terms and conditions for the selection of the operator. The IFC will submit a report detailing its findings, informing the ultimate decision.

The construction of the Patenga Container Terminal, funded by the CPA at a cost of Tk 12.99 billion, has been completed. The terminal can berth three container ships with lengths of 190 meters and a draft of 9.5 meters simultaneously, in addition to accommodating an oil tanker with a length of 290 meters at the Dolphin Jetty.

The selection of RSGT as the operator resulted from government-to-government negotiations between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, culminating in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2019. The Ministry of Shipping finalized the operator selection process in August of the previous year.

Among the five terminal operators that expressed interest in operating the new terminal, A. P. Moller-Maersk, Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT), Dubai Port World (DP World), Adani Port and Special Economic Zone Ltd., and PSA International, RSGT emerged as the chosen operator.

Equipped with modern handling equipment such as Key Gantry Cranes (KGC) and Rubber Gantry Cranes (RGC), the Patenga Container Terminal offers efficient vessel berthing due to its proximity to the Karnaphuli River estuary. Spanning 32 acres of land, the terminal is poised to facilitate significant cargo handling activities.

The formal administrative approval for the construction of the container terminal was granted to the CPA in July 2017.