EMEA News
New Qatar Economic Zone to Provide Bunkering
Qatar's planned Um AlHoul Special Economic Zone, in addition to boosting the country's logistic and storage facilities, will also provide bunkering and other maritime industry services, local media reports.
The zone is slated to begin its first phase of development in 2016 and will be located near the new Port of Hamad, which is expected to become fully operational the same year.
“Given its proximity to the port, the new economic zone will be of particular interest to the maritime industry, including ship building and repair for mid-sized ships, dhows, leisure craft, offshore platforms and dredging equipment," said Fahad Rashid al-Kaabi, CEO of Qatari economic zone developer Manateq.
“Other marine-related services will include bunkering, chandlery, warehousing, and distribution.”
Um AlHoul, the second of three planned zones, is also expected to serve a wide of array of other sectors, including petrochemicals and building materials.
Manateq was formed by the Qatar government to develop and operate three special economic zones, with the aim of promoting private sector growth and manufacturing in downstream heavy and light industries.
It was reported last year that Qatar was also planning liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering, a move which DNV GL described as a "game-changer."
