Muscat - Nine local and international groups, led by prominent port and logistic services providers, have sought to prequalify for an eagerly anticipated contract to operate and manage (O&M) Oman's first ever dry port.
This unique facility, covering an initial area of 30 hectares, is the centrepiece of an ambitious logistics hub being developed by the Omani government in South Al Batinah Governorate. Conceived as a full-service inland port, the dry port is designed to serve as a midway point for Sohar Port and other points of entry into the Sultanate. Equipped with customs bonded services, ample capacity, and eventual connectivity with the Muscat-Batinah Expressway and GCC rail, the Dry Port will be ideally positioned to serve the needs of shippers and logistics service providers.
On Tuesday, the Founding Committee of Oman Logistics Company (under incorporation), which has been tasked by the government to oversee the establishment of the South Al Batinah Logistics Area (SABLA), reviewed the credentials of the nine consortiums seeking to bid for the prestigious O&M contract.
Meeting for the third time this year, the committee discussed a timeframe for the evaluation of the prequalification documents of the interested contenders. The services of prominent professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers have been enlisted to assist in the tendering process.
Ahmed bin Hassan al Dheeb, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, chaired the Founders Committee meeting. Also in attendance were committee members including Brigadier Isa bin Said al Kiyumi, Director General of Customs -- Royal Oman Police; Mohamed bin Khalifa al Ghassani, Assistant Director-General of Ports at the Ministry of Transport and Communications; Hamoud bin Salim al Saadi, Chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry -- South Al Batinah branch; Mussalim bin Mohammad al Shahri, Assistant Chief Executive Operations -- Public Establishment for Industrial Estates; and Ahmed bin Said al Azkawi, Project Manager.
In a briefing to the Committee, Al Azkawi provided an overview of the progress achieved in the provision of electricity, water, utilities road networks, and other services across Phase 1 of the project area currently taken in hand for implementation. He also outlined efforts to provide the designated area with the infrastructure and services necessary to attract private investment into the logistics hub.
Also at the meeting, representatives of engineering consultancy firm F & M Engeria and Parsons International were invited to provide a PowerPoint presentation on the provisional master plan for the logistics area, as well as the detailed design of the Phase 1 development. Phase 1 includes areas designated for warehouses, refrigerated storage rooms, open storage yards, customs inspection yards, trucking lots, residential and administrative facilities.
The committee also reviewed formalities for completing the establishment and incorporation of Oman Logistics Company with a view to moving to the next stage of the implementation of the strategically important South Al Batinah Logistics Area initiative. It pledged to focus on the construction, operation and marketing aspects of the project in the next stage, as well as to attract competent personnel into the company.
Spread over 9,500 hectares, the South Al Batinah Logistics Area project aims to deliver on a number of strategic national objectives. It aims to facilitate the growth of private sector logistics and industrial activities, reduce empty container traffic on the road, and ease commercial truck related traffic congestion in Muscat Governorate. Besides creating direct and indirect jobs, the initiative will also support the growth of SMEs and increase the share of logistics to the GDP.
© Oman Daily Observer 2015
