Maritime Infrastructure Briefing: Huelva Locks In 50-Year Logistics Concession, Exmar Secures Decade-Long Abidjan FSRU Deal

## Port of Huelva Awards 50-Year Logistics Zone Concession The Port of Huelva has taken a decisive step in its long-term development strategy, awarding a 50-year concession to ZAL Huelva for the construction and operation of a new logistics zone at Punta del Sebo, according to Splash247. The concession covers more than 147,000 square metres within the port's service area, advancing a project that the southern Spanish gateway has been developing for several years. The Zona de Actividades Logísticas (ZAL) model — already established at major Spanish ports including Barcelona and Valencia — is designed to attract value-added logistics operators and industrial tenants seeking direct port connectivity. The half-century concession term signals strong institutional confidence in Huelva's long-term commercial trajectory. The port, strategically positioned near the mouth of the Odiel and Tinto rivers in Andalusia, serves as a key hub for bulk commodities, chemicals, and agri-products, and the new logistics zone is expected to broaden its cargo mix and attract new operators to the region. --- ## Exmar Revives Abidjan FSRU Project with 10-Year CI-Energies Agreement Belgium's Exmar has secured a 10-year floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) deal in Ivory Coast, breathing new life into an LNG import terminal project at Abidjan that has been under consideration for nearly a decade, Splash247 reports. The Antwerp-based gas shipping and infrastructure group has entered into agreements with state-owned CI-Energies, Ivory Coast's national energy utility, to provide floating LNG import infrastructure at the country's main port. The deal represents a significant commercial milestone for Exmar, which has been positioning itself as a provider of turnkey floating gas infrastructure solutions across emerging markets. Ivory Coast has faced persistent energy supply challenges, and LNG imports via an FSRU offer a relatively rapid and capital-efficient route to increasing gas availability for power generation. West Africa has seen growing interest in floating LNG infrastructure as governments seek to reduce dependence on liquid fuels and improve energy security without committing to the long lead times associated with onshore terminal construction. The 10-year contract duration provides Exmar with a stable revenue base while giving CI-Energies the operational flexibility that floating infrastructure affords compared to fixed onshore alternatives. --- ## Industry Context Both deals reflect a broader trend of long-duration infrastructure commitments in the maritime and energy sectors, as port authorities and energy utilities seek certainty in an environment of evolving trade flows and energy transition pressures. The Huelva concession underscores Spain's continued investment in port-linked logistics capacity, while the Abidjan FSRU agreement highlights the growing role of floating gas infrastructure in supporting West Africa's energy development ambitions.