RIYADH: In a move to enhance the transport and logistics sector, the governor of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province unveiled several strategic initiatives at Jubail Commercial and Industrial Ports on Wednesday.
Prince Saud bin Nayef Al-Saud said that these projects aim to augment throughput capacity and elevate the infrastructure to superior standards, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
“By launching world-class projects at Jubail’s ports, we are not only boosting the Kingdom’s foreign trade but also strengthening our global competitive edge,” the governor said.
Among the launched projects is a railway initiative connecting the northern and eastern networks. It also integrates the internal railway system with Jubail Industrial City and its accompanying industrial and commercial ports.
These enhancements aim to alleviate congestion, reduce carbon emissions, and amplify shipping operations.
At the inauguration ceremony, Omar bin Talal Hariri, president of the Saudi Ports Authority, expressed appreciation to the governor for attending the launch of these initiatives.
Hariri underscored the alignment of these projects with Vision 2030’s strategy for transportation and logistics, which aims to cement the Kingdom’s reputation as a global logistics hub and a converging point for three continents.
Further, the projects are designed to meet the goals of the Global Supply Chain Resilience Initiative by enhancing the Kingdom’s logistics network.
Another highlight is establishing a petrochemical hub featuring 10 berths and a dedicated storage area.
Echoing the goals of the Saudi Green Initiative, the projects will also champion environmental conservation by planting over 5,000 saplings within the King Fahad Industrial Port in Jubail.
Notably, King Fahad Industrial Port, recognized as the world’s largest industrial dockyard, accommodates 34 berths and processes over 100 distinct petrochemical products annually, including agricultural fertilizers, sulfur, and petroleum coke.
It also serves as a pivotal receiving station for large machinery, boasting a handling capacity of up to 70 million tons.
On the other hand, Jubail Commercial Port possesses 16 berths equipped to manage over 1.5 million containers annually and a capacity reaching 36 million tons.
