Abu Dhabi: Eight consortiums are reported to have submitted bids for the $1.5b Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone (KPIZ) project, reports Gulf News. Although the companies remain unnamed at present, the Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) is soon to begin the tendering process for the project that hopes to develop KPIZ into a major transshipment, industrial and logistics hub. The new port is to take over operations currently conducted at Mina Zayed Port (pictured) in 2009, when the latter will be re-developed as a commercial area and possible cruise hub.
Phased development at of a new KPIZ 100 square kilometre offshore facility, including building quay walls, dredging and land reclamation is to begin in the next few months. The first phase with a two million teu capacity ?" is scheduled to be completed in time for the first vessel's arrvial in September 2009. KPIZ expects to increase handling capacity to eight million teu by 2015.
ADPC md Al Calily said that the corporation was keen to enter into joint ventures with private companies for different stages of the project. DP World, is slated to be the operator of Khalifa Port as it took over the management of Mina Zayed last year. [08/02/07]
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