Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) has awarded a Dh1.028 billion ($279.8 million) contract to a joint venture between ED Zublin AG and Al Jaber Transport & General Contracting for its flagship Khalifa Port & Industrial Zone (KPIZ) project.

The agreement is for the detailed design, construction, fit-out, testing and commissioning of the offshore port’s civil and structural building works, which will provide the infrastructure necessary to support the commencement of port operations in 2012, said a statement from ADPC.

Work is due to begin immediately and is scheduled for completion in August 2012, said ADPC chief executive officer, Tony Douglas.

Douglas said he was happy to announce another key partner who is committed to delivering a high quality solution, safely, on time and to budget.
 
'Located midway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the Taweelah industrial district, KPIZ will commence operations in 2012 and over the long term to 2030 will comprise 420 sq km of prime industrial land organized into vertically integrated clusters for aluminium, petrochemicals, glass, paper and other major sectors,' he noted.

It will consist of a new, world-class multi-purpose offshore port and one of the largest integrated industrial zones in the world.

'KPIZ is a feature of the Abu Dhabi Vision 2030 and will play a major role in the emirate's industrial and economic diversification by serving as a key hub for large scale industrial investments serviced by a world class port, transport and other facilities,' he explained.

The first phase of Khalifa Port will open in 2012, replacing Abu Dhabi’s existing main port of Mina Zayed. The new port will have an initial capacity of 2 million TEUs (Twenty Foot Equivalent Units), of containers and 9 million tons of general cargo.

The dedicated EMAL berth will be operational later this year. When all phases of Khalifa Port are completed, it will have a capacity of 15 million TEUs of containers and 35 million tons of general cargo.

The key highlights of the project include:

The construction of 23 buildings and associated structures, including the Terminal Operations Building – a six storey construction which will become the port’s centre of operations.

Other significant buildings include an offshore clinic, fire station; harbour master building, worker services building, four 11kV substations and maintenance and repair workshops.

Over 1000m of quay wall and associated marine fenders and bollards.

A 5.4km dual carriageway linking the offshore port to the mainland with associated service roads, street lighting and two helipads.

Provision of site-wide utilities including electrical, drainage, sewerage, potable water, and telecoms.

ADPC is a master developer of ports, industrial zones, trade & logistics zones, and related services. Its purpose is to create a sustainable growth platform that spurs economic expansion and diversification for Abu Dhabi.-TradeArabia News Service