12 December 2015
Under the high patronage of Prime Minister and Interior Minister HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani

QPMC Floating Jetties, Ras Laffan: Qatar Primary Materials Company (QPMC) celebrated the inauguration of its new stockpile and floating jetties Yamal 1 and Yamal 2 at a ceremony held on site in Ras Laffan Industrial City (RLIC) under the high patronage of Prime Minister and Interior Minister HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani . Dignitaries in attendance at the ceremony included, Chairman of QPMC Engr. Abdulaziz Al Ansari, QPMC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Eng. Eisa Al Hammadi and a number of Ministers, QPMC Board members and senior officials representing QPMC, Qatar Petroleum, Ras Laffan Industrial City and Nakilat the project's main contractor in addition to local media representatives.

For his part Engr. Abdulaziz Al Ansari, QPMC Chairman stated, "The overall vision of HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, and support of HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, were invaluable as to the timely delivery of this project which will help fulfill the ambitious program outlined by the country's wise leadership to complete many major infrastructure and construction plans as well as the development of transportation networks. Therefore, once this new facility boasting a total four floating jetties including the now serviceable Yamal 1 and 2, and the 1,800,000 square meter-stockyard; is fully operational in late 2016, the port's capacity will increase gradually in tandem with the government's need for material supply in the Northern areas of the country as a vital construction hub."

Also commenting on this major milestone and focusing on the Ras Laffan port's long term value, QPMC CEO Engr. Eisa Al Hammadi said, "Today's strategic inauguration of QPMC's state-of-the-art facility, equipment and mechanisms demonstrates QPMC's alignment with Qatar's shift towards value-added industries to which it is providing all support elements. QPMC is therefore accomplishing its role by minimizing cost and improving return for the benefit of stakeholders, both of which form an inherent part of QPMC's and Qatar's National Vision's call for sustainable development."

Al Hammadi futher stressed that QPMC is working to be a catalyst for change, by providing comprehensive services and encouraging private sector participation in various State projects, through mechanisms that allow private sector companies to contribute to developmental projects, while facilitating their access to primary materials with QPMC responsible of ensuring adequate import, transport, storage and delivery of materials as well stable prices for the benefit of the country's vital construction sector .

QPMC CEO Engineer Eisa Al Hamadi further commented, "He further commended the project's main contractor Nakilat (N-Kom) for the delivery of this phase of this huge project within the deadline and allocated budget while complying fully with safety and security standards."

It is worth mentioning that the completed first phase of the project consists of two floating docks Yamal 1 and Yamal 2    with total port receiving capacity of nine million tons a year. Serving as an offloading point for aggregates, the jetties will be in close proximity to the stockpile located in the industrial city within a distance of 28 kilometers. The port operates around the clock and boasts a gabbro and limestone storage area of 1,800,000 meters to feed governmental and non-governmental clients with primary materials that meet their requirements in terms of quantity, quality and specifications, all for a competitive price.

Considering that Qatar's construction sector boosts a diverse portfolio of infrastructure projects in the Northern part of the country, QPMC has set up the four floating jetties in Ras Laffan to supply the needed primary materials while reducing traffic congestion problems and the growing pressure on QPMC's other facilities in the areas of Messaieed and Lusail which were designed specifically to fulfill Qatar's Vision 2030 in its call to increase the country's strategic stock of primary materials for the completion of major developmental projects. Hence,

QPMC will now be able to secure from its Ras Laffan port facility, primary materials with a potential volume throughput of nine million tons per year annually for the next five years.

QPMC as the designated operator of this facility will use the floating jetties mainly for unloading its own aggregate barges and for stockpiling these strategic materials at its own stockyard through a truck and trailer operation with QPMC's own transport fleet, via direct delivery to QPMC's stockyard, within a distance of 28 kilometers inside Ras Laffan Industrial City.

QPMC as the owner and operator of the facility and related equipment and as the supplier, seller and distributor of the imported primary materials, has therefore competitive advantage allowing it to offer lower prices, sufficient quantities and superior quality to the local market.

As part of its mandate to ensure that enough aggregate and construction material is on the ground to support government infrastructure development and other construction projects, QPMC is scheduled next to inaugurate its conveyor belt project and cement silos by late 2016, which will significantly reduce truck loading time and improve the cost efficiency and handling capacity of the Messaieed port significantly thanks to the conveyor belts and silos facilities. The high rate of discharge capacity from ships will also be reducing ships' waiting time as the facility will operate round the clock.

Towards the end of the ceremony, Engr. Abdulaziz Al Ansari, QPMC Chairman presented the Prime Minister and Interior Minister HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani with a token of appreciation that was followed by a group photo with QPMC Chairman, QPMC CEO and QPMC Board Members.

For more information:
Loucia Isaac Seropian
Mobile: 55005785
Loucia.isaac@qpmc.qa
Communications Advisor
Qatar Primary Materials Company  

© Press Release 2015