Hutchison Ports has agreed with Saudi Arabian authorities to develop and operate a port in Jazan City on the Red Sea, which will include a container terminal.
The Hong Kong port operator and the Royal Commission in Jubail and Yanbu, represented by the Jubail and Yanbu Industrial Services Company, have inked an investment and operation agreement in a virtual ceremony for the multipurpose port in the Jazan City for Primary and Downstream Industries (JCPDI).
JCPDI Port is located on China’s Belt and Road Initiative and is the country’s closest port to East Asia, near the border with Yemen. Apart from the box terminal, the port will also consist of a general cargo and dry-bulk terminal. Both terminals will be equipped with the latest in handling equipment, according to a statement, and will have a quayside draft of 16.5m.
The Saudi port is expected to be developed over two phases, while the commercial operations of the first phase will launch this year with the general cargo and dry-bulk terminal. The “Phase I” of the container terminal will start in early 2022 and will offer 730m of berth.
The port is considered a major gateway to the country’s southern region, according to an announcement, and the terminals are expected to support economic growth in the entire region and to serve eastern and southern Africa.
“The JCPDI Port was established to provide modern logistics services in the region to enhance the Kingdom’s presence in this field and support the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which aspires the Kingdom to become a global logistics platform,” commented the chairman of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Saadan.
Eric Ip, group managing director of Hutchison Ports, emphasised the long-term presence of the Hong port operator in Saudi Arabia, as it had terminals previously at Dammam, Saudi Arabia, and pointed out that “JCPDI Port is located at the crossroads of one of the busiest east-west trade lanes and the rapidly growing north-south trade lanes.”
Source : Container-News
