Port of Duqm handles maiden limestone shipment

SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE: 55,000 MT limestone consignment leaves Duqm for Indian market

A ship laden with 55,000 metric tonnes (MT) of limestone left the Port of Duqm for India last week in the first shipment of limestone from the port’s commercial quay.

The mineral commodity was mined and exported by Desert Enterprises Trading & Contracting from a limestone quarry located about 40 km from the port. Proven limestone reserves at the quarry are estimated at over 200 million tonnes. Desert Enterprises, a leading Omani mining firm, also produces laterite, kaolin clay and gypsum.

Expectations are that the limestone mine in Duqm will produce several hundred thousand metric tonnes of the commodity every month, the bulk of which will be exported via Duqm Port. Limestone’s principal use is in the cement and steel industry, but also finds application in the production of gypsum board and glass.

“One of the major markets that Port of Duqm is aiming to support is the mineral industry of Oman,” said Erwin Mortelmans, Commercial Director of Port of Duqm.

“This first shipment is another milestone in Duqm Port’s ongoing support for the diversification of the Omani economy and the development of the mineral industry in particular,” he added.

“Exports of minerals from the Port of Duqm commenced in February 2016, starting with shipments of dolomite, another mineral mined in the vicinity of Duqm. The addition of limestone to mineral exports will serve as a boost to throughput activity level at the port,” he noted.

Duqm Port is banking on the commercialisation of the substantial mineral resources of Wusta Governorate to generate a sizeable chunk of the industrial hub’s cargo volumes over the long term.