Abu Dhabi, UAE - Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE's US$11 billion national railway network, has announced today that it has transported more than 5.24 million tonnes of granulated sulphur in the first 18 months of Stage One operations for Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), from sources at Shah and Habshan to its point of export at Ruwais.
Equivalent to more than 330,000 truck trips, the transport of granulated sulphur is the workhorse of Etihad Rail's Stage One, which received approval for commercial operations from the Federal Transport Authority's (FTA) - Land and Maritime in December 2015. Two trains depart daily under the current timetable, each carrying 11,000 tonnes of granulated sulphur and capable of reaching a top-speed of 120 kilometres per hour. Etihad Rail is the country's latest and most robust facilitator of sulphur movement, which is rapidly growing as an integral part of the UAE economy.
"Surpassing the 5.24-million-tonne mark with the transport of granulated sulphur is a significant milestone for Etihad Rail and stands as an emblem of our unwavering commitment to facilitating economic connectivity across Abu Dhabi and the UAE," said Eng. Faris Saif Al Mazrouei, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Rail.
"Stage One's continued progress is a testament to the strength of the partnership between Etihad Rail and ADNOC, who are committed to the UAE's continued economic diversification and stand aligned with Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 and UAE Vision 2021," Eng. Al Mazrouei added.
Stretching a distance of 264-kilometres, Stage One links the sulphur sources of Shah and Habshan to the export point of Ruwais via the Mirfa depot, which was recently awarded the Estidama 2 Pearl Construction Rating by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) for its seven sustainable buildings. Stage One utilises seven state-of-the-art locomotives from U.S.-based Electro-Motive Diesel, with wagons supplied by China's CSR Corporation.
The multi-billion dollar integrated rail network project, which will span approximately 1,200-kilometres when complete, is undergoing construction in three stages. The UAE will witness the development of a secure railway transportation network capable of transporting large volumes of goods and materials while linking the UAE's principle centres of population and industry, along with the greater GCC railway network. Etihad Rail is being developed in line with the core tenets of Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 and UAE Vision 2021, which collectively chart a course for economic diversification through strategic initiatives set to catalyse UAE socio-economic growth.
At full capacity, Stage One of Etihad Rail is slated to transport more than seven million tonnes of granulated sulphur annually.
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About Etihad Rail (www.etihadrail.ae)
Etihad Rail was established in June 2009 under Federal Law no. 2, with a mandate to manage the development, construction and operation of the UAE's national freight and passenger railway network. Being built in three stages, the railway network will link the principal centres of population and industry of the UAE, and will form a vital part of the planned GCC railway network across the six countries of the GCC.
In December 2015, the Federal Transport Authority - Land and Maritime (FTA) granted approval for commercial operations on Stage One, which has carried more than 5.2 million tonnes of granulated sulphur as of March 2016. The 264-km Stage One stretches from the gas fields of Shah and Habshan to the sulphur export point of Ruwais via the Mirfa depot. Stage Two will connect the railway to Musaffah, Khalifa Port and Jebel Ali port and will see the railway extend to the Saudi and Omani borders.
In addition to the Operational & Maintenance Agreement with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) for the transport of sulphur between Habshan and Shah to Ruwais, Etihad Rail is also in advanced commercial and technical negotiations with other prospective partners, including DP World, ESI, Arkan, and others.
To date, Etihad Rail has signed more than 50 Memorandums of Understanding with a number of customers throughout the Emirates - in industries ranging from petrochemicals and agriculture to aggregates and waste - all of whom recognise rail as the preferred mode of transport for their goods.
Built to international standards, Etihad Rail's state-of-the-art network will span approximately 1,200 km, acting as a catalyst for economic growth and sustained social development. Upon completion, the railway will redefine logistics and transport in the region, providing a modern, safe, efficient and sustainable mode of transport that will connect all regions of the UAE to its neighbouring GCC countries.
© Press Release 2016
