Salalah invests to double capacity

The project will increase dry bulk handling to 20m tonnes and liquid cargo to over 6m tonnes annually – the aim is to make Salalah a regional hub for both cargoes, in addition to container handling.

Peter Ford, chief executive at the Port of Salalah, said to Port Strategy: “The general cargo business has been growing rapidly and this expansion will play a significant role in serving the continued development of businesses in Salalah and the surrounding region.”

This is only part of the port’s plan though, as Mr Ford added: “We also have a vision of Salalah taking a role as a major liquid bulk hub for a number of commodities.”

The planned expansion will include the construction of an additional 1200m of multi purpose berth with 18m draft and liquid commodity loading facilities.

The work will greatly enhance Salalah’s role in handling key industrial components such as fuel, methanol, monoethylene glycol and caustic soda.

The Port of Salalah is part of the APM Terminals Network with APMT holding a 30% share in the port, the government of Oman holding 20% and the remaining 50% being held by institutional and private investors.