Mineral-based investments to fuel cargo growth at Duqm Port

used in paints, drilling muds, oil spill clean-up and other applications.

Laterite, commonly used in the cement industry, can be found on Masirah Island, among other locations in north Oman. Also available in abundance in Madrakah (80km from Duqm), among other locations is gabbro, a major raw material for the construction industry. High quality gabbro can also be polished into a beautiful dark ornamental stone, sometimes known as ‘Black Granite’. At Al Jubah, north of Duqm, are large granite deposits suitable for the production of ornamental stone.

Rounding off the list of key minerals is basalt, which abounds in the Al Serab area, some 100km north of Duqm Port. Basalt from this area can be potentially used in the manufacture of Basalt Continuous Fibre (BCF), which has wide application in the construction, automotive, electrical and aerospace industries.

Given the potential for mineral-based industrial activities at Duqm, a Dry Bulk Terminal with an indicative capacity of up to 5 million tonnes per annum is envisaged as part of the port’s Phase 1 development.

Port of Duqm Company SAOC, a 50:50 joint venture between Consortium Antwerp Port (CAP) and the Omani government, was set up in 2010 to run the maritime hub. CAP is supported by the Port of Antwerp (Belgium), one of Europe’s largest hub ports. Under an agreement signed with the government last April, the joint venture was granted a 28-year concession to co-invest, operate, manage and market Duqm Port.