Consortium Antwerp Port runs Port of Duqm
With the signing of the concession agreement between Consortium Antwerp Port (CAP) and the Sultanate of Oman to operate, develop and manage the Port of Duqm and its industrial land for the next 28 years, the Porf of Duqm Company reaches its second milestone. The agreement was signed in the presence of HRH Princess Astrid of Belgium, Antwerp Port said in its press release.
On the 29th of June 2009, the Omani government and CAP signed a first agreement to manage and operate Duqm port. The agreement was the outcome of a granting procedure organised by the Oman Government. CAP, a joint venture between Rent A Port (RAP) and Port of Antwerp International (PAI), was granted the contract due to its track record in port development, its engineering capacity, its willingness to co-invest in Duqm port’s industrial land development and the excellent management expertise.
Back in 2009, the development of the Port of Duqm was not yet been completed and CAP controlled and supervised the final infrastructure works done by the Consortium C.C.C. /STFA and Jan De Nul (Belgium). These were finalised in 2012 and are an example of top engineering..
This was the basis for the establishment of the Port of Duqm Company (PDC), a 50-50 Belgian-Omani joint venture between CAP and the Sultanate of Oman. With this agreement PDC has the overall responsibility for the further development, management and commercialisation of the Duqm Port facilities, including the industrial land zone. As an active landlord PDC will also provide training and coaching of port employees (dockers, pilots, management), develop global marketing initiatives and establish Duqm as a petrochemical key hub in the region with a focus on the Middle-East, Indian and West African market.
CAP’s goal is to develop general port activities with special emphasis on oil and gas. The involvement of Antwerp based companies in the development of the port of Duqm will also improve the position of Antwerp as the main gateway for petrochemicals from the Middle East. The last decade Antwerp/Belgium became the leading hub for the fast growing GCC chemicals export in Europe (from 2.8 million tons in 2002 to 7.8 million tons in 2012). The market share of Antwerp increased from 10% up to 24%.
Rent-A-Port is an engineering and investment company, specialized in the development of marine infrastructures and industrial zones. Its main shareholder is Ackermans & Van Haren (AvH), a stock market listed Belgian investment company. Luc Bertrand, AvH CEO, concludes: “CAP brings together the renowned expertise of Rent A Port and Port of Antwerp International. It allows Oman to rely on the best available men and women in the business of port development. Furthermore, the advantage of having Antwerp and Belgian firms involved makes us top of mind in the region, which gives good prospects for future trade lanes between the Port of Antwerp and the Port of Duqm”.
Port of Antwerp International is a subsidiary of the Antwerp Port Authority and brings together the Port of Antwerp's 200 year expertise and know-how and has access to a network of experts and resources to help port companies in their challenges. Marc Van Peel, Chairman Antwerp Port Authority: “PAI levers the port’s international connectivity and allows us to detect business opportunities in an early stage with the aim of trade lane development and creation of synergies. All this to assist Belgian companies with their international investments and to stimulate new flows of goods to the Port of Antwerp.”