Abu Dhabi's port projects on track

Smaller ports in Shahama, Ras al Ghaf, Mussafah and Al Sadr will undergo development in the next few years alongside Abu Dhabi's flagship Khalifa Port. The first phase of the US$2.18 billion (Dh8bn) Khalifa Port in Taweelah will become operational in 2012, a senior official at Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) said yesterday. "The Khalifa Port will be built in five phases. Phase one will be ready end 2012," said Mohammed al Shamisi, the vice president of port operations at Abu Dhabi Ports Company. The initial capacity of the new port is two million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) and eight million tonnes general cargo annually, almost four times the current capacity of the largest existing port.

The operations of the existing Mina Zayed port will be shifted to the Khalifa Port in late 2012, he said. Mina Zayed handled 530,000 TEUs last year and 4.3 million tonnes of general cargo, he said. "By 2030, when all phases of the port are completed, its capacity will be 15 million TEUs and 35 million tonnes of general cargo," Mr al Shamisi said, adding the port would contribute up to $22bn of Abu Dhabi's GDP in 2030.

The Musaffah port, a few kilometres from Abu Dhabi island, will benefit from a $408 million channel relocation project to be completed by June this year, he said. "This port will service existing and future clients in the Musaffah industrial area and the nearby industrial zones," he said, adding that the port would be transferred to ADPC in July. * with Reuters @Email:igale@thenational.ae