Business | General
First phase of Khalifa Port to come online in 2012
Capital planning smaller developments to cope with increasing traffic
- Reuters
- Published: 00:00 March 16, 2010
Abu Dhabi: The first phase of Abu Dhabi's $2.18 billion (Dh10.2 billion) Khalifa Port will become operational in 2012 and the capital plans to develop smaller ports to cope with increasing traffic, a senior port official said Monday.
The initial capacity of the new port is 2 million TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units) and eight million tonnes of general cargo annually, nearly four times more than the current capacity of the largest existing port.
"The Khalifa Port will be built in five phases. Phase one will be ready end 2012," Mohammad Al Shamsi, Port Unit vice-president, Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone (KPIZ) told a conference.
The operations of the existing Mina Zayed will be shifted to the Khalifa Port in late 2012, he said.
Mina Zayed handled 530,000 TEUs in 2009 and 4.3 million tonnes of general cargo, he said.
The KPIZ is also focusing on developing small ports around the emirate. At least four smaller ports are under development, including the Mina Mussafah.
The approximately $408 million Mina Mussafah channel relocation project will be completed by June this year, he said.
"This port will service existing and future clients in the Mussafah industrial area and the nearby industrial zones," he said, adding that the port would be transferred to the Abu Dhabi Ports Company in July.
The other ports being developed are the Shahama port, Ras Al Gaf and Al Sadr, he said.
An upcoming aluminium smelter and other plants in sectors such as chemicals, glass and paper in the industrial zone will ensure steady traffic at the Khalifa port.
Abu Dhabi has embarked on a major diversification plan to develop various sectors such as property, tourism, infrastructure and others.
cargo handling
bigger and better
2m
initial capacity of new port, in TEUs
$2.18b
cost of first phase of Khalifa Port
More from Business General
More from Business
Business Editor's choice
-
China breaks West's solar monopoly
Some countries in the world, especially Germany and the United States, have made considerable efforts to invest in developing solar energy cells
-
Burberry store spree will cut profit
Trenchcoat maker forges ahead with investment strategy targeting emerging markets
-
Laws needed to spur region bond markets
UAE Central Bank calls for creation of a centralised Sharia board to facilitate the sale of sukuk
