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With traffic continuing to rise at all of the country’s major seaports, the Saudi Ports Authority (SPA) and King Abdul Aziz Port plan to spend US$914 million on port development, reported Mist News.
Among these developments is a $164 million plan that includes a $51 million power plant to be constructed at King Abdul Aziz Port in Dammam to boost power generation capacity from 50 megawatts to 120 megawatts.
As well, a new container terminal at a cost of $46 million will be built in Dheba Port, with two others to be constructed at King Fahd Industrial Port in Jubail at a cost of $38 million, with both due for completion by 2014.
In addition, more than $750 million is to be invested in the expansion of Dammam’s King Abdul Aziz Port, with $535 million set aside for container terminal capacity expansion and $213 million for other facilities, following a 10 percent increase in container handling in 2012 compared to 2011 figures.
Commenting on the increase in traffic and container volume across the Kingdom, Sahir Tahlawi, general manager at Jeddah Islamic Port (JIP), said: "Growth at the Red Sea Gateway Terminal in Jeddah accounted for the handling of one million TEUs in 2011 and increased to over 1.5 million TEUs last year, reflecting the kingdom's massive growth of import and exports.
Overall, the SPA's development plans for all domestic seaports are an indicator that more international companies are becoming interested and doing business with the kingdom."
As one of the kingdom’s primary container hubs, the JIP has witnessed increased volumes by more than 25 percent, recording a 5.15 percent in growth of imports and exports in the first half of the year, rising to 3.6 million tonnes and an average increase of 10.9 percent per annum forecast through 2016.
Cargonews Asia
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