Central Service Corridor in Salalah Port Approaches the Final Implementation and Operation Phases in 2020

Date: 17/12/2019

Increasing handling ability in Salalah port is one of logistic sector’s initiatives, which is part of the government’s efforts to enhance economic diversification. Implementation Support and Follow-up Unit (ISFU) supports and follows up the implementation of this initiative in cooperation with Ministry of Transport, ASYAD, Salalah port & Oman Gas Company, as an aim to support this sector, which is one of the key drivers in the comprehensive development in the Sultanate. This initiative aims at enhancing the infrastructure of Salalah port by adding 2.4 Km to the current central service corridor ( 2.2 Km) with an investment value of 23.4 million OMR. The corridor will provide an logistics solutions such as transferring the liquids through the pipelines in Salalah Free Zone to the different offload locations in the port. It will serve other development projects in the port with investment value of 1.96 billion OMR. It will hopefully provide job opportunities and increase investment in the zone.

Sami Al Mazeedi, Senior projects engineer in Oman Gas company and the supervisor of the project, stated that the project aims to connect the projects that export and import liquids from Salalah Free zone to liquids terminal in Salalah port. The project will decrease the transportation cost for the investors, as it will reduce the time to transport these materials, which will attract foreign investments. It also includes a shelf for the pipes with two layers of solid concrete linked to another shelf made of iron with the ability to carry 29 pipes, in addition to a main road and two sub roads on the sides of the shelf for maintenance and water delivery services, wastewater, electricity, surveillance system and firefighting.

Al Mazeedi pointed out that this project is located in a vital region that includes underground services. He added that the trucks visiting the port daily, in addition to the impact of the project’s works on the governmental entities and companies form the main challenges that face this project.

ISFU has closely followed up the implementation of this project through the periodic meetings with Oman Gas company. The construction process was completed in the set timeline, which includes establishing zones 2,3,4, extinguishing system, providing drinkable water, installing and operating lampposts in the streets, installing the closed loop TV system, completing the construction of all corridors and ways inside the central service corridor.

The additional infrastructure projects, which were implemented within this initiative aim to increase handling ability of Salalah port, in addition to increasing the effectiveness of the operation all around the port.