Work begins on bulk liquid petroleum terminal

Dubai: Horizon Terminals Ltd (HTL), the wholly-owned subsidiary of Emirates National Oil Company (Enoc) focused on terminalling operations, yesterday said it has broken ground for its new $142 million bulk liquid petroleum terminal in the Jebel Ali Free Zone.

The fully automated terminal, with a storage capacity of 141,000 cubic metres and a dedicated 58 kilometre pipeline connecting directly to Dubai International Airport for the supply of jet fuel, is scheduled for commissioning in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Saeed Abdullah Khoory, Chief Executive Officer of Enoc; Yusr Sultan, Managing Director-Terminals, Enoc; and Fahad Askar, Deputy Director of Operations, HTL, marked the symbolic start of construction of the terminal at a ceremony attended by representatives from Enoc and Horizon Terminals Ltd.

"The construction of the bulk liquid petroleum terminal underlines Enoc's commitment to partner in the ambitious and visionary growth of Dubai and support its economic diversification initiatives," said Khoory. "The terminal adds great value to Dubai's aviation industry, one of the fastest growing economic sectors of the emirate.

"This is further bolstered by the growth of Emirates airline and the increasing number of annual aircraft movements, set to clock over 560,000 by 2020.

"This tremendous growth in the aviation and airline industry needs to be sustained with a timely and reliable supply of jet fuel, which is the primary goal of this new terminal," added Khoory.

Having recorded more than 51 million passenger arrivals, Dubai International Airport is on course to becoming the world's third busiest airport by 2020, set to welcome 98 million passengers. The Horizon Bulk Liquid Petroleum Terminal will have fully automated facilities to receive jet fuel from marine tankers and from the adjacent Enoc-owned refinery.

The terminal will also have tanker truck loading facilities connected to oil tanker berths and associated abilities to ensure seamless supply lines to other airports in the UAE.