Sohar Port South expansion project set to kick off

GROWTH STRATEGY: Dredging and reclamation initiative to add 200 hectares for petrochemical investments

The first phase of a mega expansion of Sohar Port and Freezone — part of a long-term move to grow this vital industrial and maritime hub by as much as 50 per cent — is set to get under way.

According to officials, the current expansion project — dubbed Sohar Port South — envisages the dredging and reclamation of a waterfront area (formerly known as the Majees Reclamation Project) on the southern boundaries of the hub.

As a first step in the implementation of this landmark development, Sohar Port and Freezone floated a tender last week inviting local and international consultants to prequalify for its contract to provide consultancy services as well as the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) on its Sohar Port South expansion. Interested consultants have until the end of this week to collect the prequalification documents. Overseeing the Sohar Port South expansion is Development Sohar International Company (SIDC), a 50-50 joint venture between the Omani government, represented by the Ministry of Transport and Communications, and the Port of Rotterdam.

Significantly, the expansion will add a further 200 hectares of land to Sohar Port’s present capacity of around 2,000 hectares — almost all of which has already been leased to tenants and service providers. Given its proximity to the bustling petrochemicals cluster of the port, it is expected that Sohar Port South will be earmarked almost exclusively for petrochemicals-based investment.

According to officials, the successful bidder will provide consultancy services, as well as detailed engineering design work covering the dredging, reclamation, shore protection and jetty development aspects of the Sohar Port South expansion project. A length of new quay wall will be added as a result, complete with a navigable approach