Business & Money | Sunday 19 February, 2017 8:19 am |

Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE's multi-billion dollar fully integrated national railway network, has since commencing Stage One operations, transported 10 million tonnes of granulated sulphur for the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) as of February 10, from sources at Shah and Habshan to its point of export at Ruwais.

Since having received approval for commercial operations from the Federal Transport Authority’s (FTA) – Land and Maritime in December 2015, two trains move along the Stage One network daily under the current timetable, each carrying up to 11,000 tonnes of granulated sulphur. To date, the monthly average tonnage of sulphur transported stands at 410,000 tonnes, with the seven million tonne mark having been surpassed at the end of August 2016

“The Etihad Rail project is emblematic of our zest for sustainable development, fostering innovation, and unsurpassed commitment toward revolutionising the UAE’s socio-economic landscape,” said Eng. Faris Saif Al Mazrouei, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Rail.

“Stage One’s continued progress underpins our vision to create significant benefits to the UAE through a faster, safer and more reliable alternative transport system. Transporting high volumes of sulphur per year is only the beginning of our efforts to expand the UAE’s logistics capabilities when transferring goods and raw materials from their source points to their final destinations,” Eng. Al Mazrouei added.

The 1,200km long Etihad Rail network is part of the government’s plans to invest in excellent transport infrastructure, with the aim being to further strengthen the UAE’s position as a leading logistics hub, facilitating connectivity between trading partners in the region and beyond, through integration with key ports of the Gulf and Arabian seas.

 

Stretching a distance of 264-kilometres, Stage One links the sulphur sources of Shah and Habshan to the export point of Ruwais via the Mirfa depot. Built to international standards, Stage One utilises seven state-of-the-art locomotives from U.S.-based Electro-Motive Diesel, with wagons supplied by China’s CSR Corporation.

Etihad Rail is being developed in line with the core tenets of Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 and UAE Vision 2021, which collectively call for economic diversification through strategic initiatives set to bolster UAE socio-economic growth.

At full capacity, Stage One of Etihad Rail is poised to transport more than seven million tonnes of granulated sulphur annually.

 

About Etihad Rail (www.etihadrail.ae)

Etihad Rail was established in June 2009 under Federal Law no. 2, with a mandate to manage the development, construction and operation of the UAE’s national freight and passenger railway network. Being built in three stages, the railway network will link the principal centres of population and industry of the UAE, and will form a vital part of the planned GCC railway network across the six countries of the GCC.

 

In December 2015, the Federal Transport Authority – Land and Maritime (FTA) granted approval for commercial operations on Stage One, which has carried more than 9.4 million tonnes of granulated sulphur as of January 2017. The 264-km Stage One stretches from the gas fields of Shah and Habshan to the sulphur export point of Ruwais via the Mirfa depot. Stage Two will connect the railway to Musaffah, Khalifa Port and Jebel Ali port and will see the railway extend to the Saudi and Omani borders.

 

In addition to the Operational & Maintenance Agreement with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) for the transport of sulphur between Habshan and Shah to Ruwais, Etihad Rail is also in advanced commercial and technical negotiations with other prospective partners, including DP World, ESI, Arkan, and others.

 

To date, Etihad Rail has signed more than 50 Memoranda of Understanding with a number of customers throughout the Emirates – in industries ranging from petrochemicals and agriculture to aggregates and waste – all of whom recognise rail as the preferred mode of transport for their goods.

 

Built to international standards, Etihad Rail’s state-of-the-art network will span approximately 1,200 km, acting as a catalyst for economic growth and sustained social development. Upon completion, the railway will redefine logistics and transport in the region, providing a modern, safe, efficient and sustainable mode of transport that will connect all regions of the UAE to its neighbouring GCC countries.