Already identified as a potential source of industrial minerals, Oman’s lack of a dedicated minerals export terminal will soon be over owing to planned developments by Sohar Industrial Port Co. (SIPC), a 50:50 joint venture between the government of Oman and the Port of Rotterdam.
SIPC intends to build a mineral export terminal, termed the General Dry Bulk and Aggregates Terminal, handling some 6-10m. tpa of aggregates and dry bulk commodities.
Construction of the $30m. investment is expected to commence in the third or fourth quarter of 2010, with completion anticipated in 2012. Until that time, a temporary facility could become available to start the operations later in 2010.
Edwin Lammers, executive commercial manager, SIPC, told IM: “The government has approved the building of the main infrastructure of the export terminal. We are now seeking suitable operators for the new terminal.”
A terminal platform, which...