MARAFI SOHAR SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH SOHAR PORT AND FREEZONE FOR NEW TERMINAL

Highlighting the rapid growth in Oman’s aggregate market, Marafi SOHAR has joined hands with SOHAR Port and Freezone to develop and operate a new high-capacity mineral aggregate terminal at the port. The agreement was formalised between SOHAR and Marafi at SOHAR Port and Freezone branch office in Muscat. SOHAR CEO, Mark Geilenkirchen, signed the agreement with Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Al Abri, representing Marafi SOHAR.

Highlighting the market opportunities generated by the new development, Mark Geilenkirchen said, “SOHAR is ideally equipped to develop high-capacity aggregate facilities, especially when you consider most of the quarries producing mineral aggregate are in close proximity to the port. As a result, the port provides easy access for export and a great opportunity for development. We are proud to join hands with such a forward thinking company as Marafi SOHAR, who have a long-term strategy in place to expand their horizons internationally, through business partnerships and relations, with SOHAR as their gateway to the gulf and beyond.”

The key proposal will utilise the Bulk Terminal No. 25 at SOHAR Port and will have one stockpile yard giving a total area of around 200,000 sqm. This phase will take around 20 months to develop. In the meantime and given the lucrative short-term opportunity, a temporary hybrid solution will be established to allow aggregate export within only 16 weeks of the sub-usufruct agreement date.

The hybrid solution will be located on Terminal 2D with total area around 100,000 sqm and will see the installation of two mobile ship loaders with a capacity of 750 MT/hour and a third one as a spare unit. Additionally, the yard will be prepared to receive three separate stock piles of two-grades each and the installation of two weigh bridges. The initial phase will see all the necessary equipment required being brought to the site.

The expected time frame to start barge loading will be eight weeks from the signing agreement for phase-1; and about 16 weeks for phase-2, which will involve both Vessel and barge loading. In total, our loading capacity will be approximately eight million tons per year.

Marafi SOHAR is a newly established subsidiary and investing arm of Asyad. As part of the Port Operations and Management Company’s vision to transform Oman into one of the top 10 Global Logistics Hubs, it also seeks to develop the port and forge global business relationships.