Abu Dhabi growth gathers momentum with second port
Abu Dhabi is planning a second port in the industrial township of Musaffah to handle some 5m-9m tonnes per annum.
Consultant Royal Haskoning has been contracted to carry out a project feasibility study for the port which is scheduled to be operational by 2009.
Earlier this year, Abu Dhabi Ports Company announced the construction of Khalifa Industrial City and Port in Taweelah, 40 km from Abu Dhabi. Current operations at Mina Zayed Port will be moved across to the new port by 2010. Jaber Al Khaili, manager of engineering department at ZonesCorp, said: “The consultant will carry out the tasks necessary to achieve the objectives of the feasibility study and to estimate the market potential of a new industrial International consultant BMT has stepped up its commitments in Abu Dhabi, assisting with a concession for Mina Zayed Port and completing a business plan for a major new offshore port development near Abu Dhabi.
The business plan undertaken by BMT will be used as a basis for the implementation of the $2.5bn multiuser port and adjacent 9,900 hectare industrial zone. The new port and industrial zone will replace the existing Mina Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi, which is constrained by the surrounding city development and problems with land BMT’s Middle Eastern promise port in Abu Dhabi covering both the potential trade volumes and revenues.
It will also identify the key factors that are most likely to attract potential users to the port and which factors would provide a competitive edge over neighbouring ports.”