EXCLUSIVE: Abu Dhabi moves on stalled rail project
28 November, 2017 | By JENNIFER AGUINALDO
Abu Dhabi has re-engaged with stakeholders for the design and route alignment for the upcoming phases of Etihad Rail, the UAE’s federal railway network.
This includes the rail project’s second stage, for which procurement was suspended in early 2016.
“We were told Stage 2 is no longer on hold,” a source who was present at a high-level meeting held last week tells MEED.
During the meeting, senior officials at the Abu Dhabi-based Federal Transport Authority and Fujairah Municipality primarily discussed the need for minor revisions to the current route alignment for Stage 3, which will link the railway to Fujairah as well as Ras al-Khaimah and Sharjah.
MEED earlier reported that the client, Etihad Rail, met with stakeholders in late 2016.
However, neither the FTA nor Etihad Rail has officially confirmed reviving the procurement process for Stage 2 so far.
MEED understands securing funding remains a key issue for the succeeding phases of the scheme.
Etihad Rail suspended the procurement for Stage 2 of the 1,200-kilometre national railway in January 2016, following a 30 per cent employee reduction.
The main package for the 628km Stage 2 has been tendered twice. Two groups were believed to have been shortlisted in the first tender. They include:
- Salini Impregilo (Italy) / Samsung C&T (South Korea) / Tristar (local)
- China Railway Construction Company (China ) / Ghantoot Group (local)
Based on the original design, Stage 2 will connect the railway to Mussafah, to the ports in Abu Dhabi and Jebel Ali, and to the Saudi and Omani borders.
Etihad Rail has been operational since late 2015.
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) is the offtaker for the railway’s first stage, which is used mainly to transport granulated sulphur from Shah and Habshan to the Mirfa depot in Ruwais, from where it is being exported.
Related Posts
Despite a recent slowdown in annual growth volumes, Islamic finance experts regard sukuk as an important route to achieving global green goals
First Abu Dhabi Bank made headlines recently when it ...
READ MORE
GlobalData tracker finds regional contractors are most exposed to the downturn in construction activity
Contractors in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region are most likely to be impacted by Covid-19 ...
READ MORE
Greater public-private collaboration will be key to meeting net-zero energy production targets
Power developers and utility providers in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) have set ambitious targets to expand their ...
READ MORE
There has been a fundamental shift in the way that the economies of the region operate
There has been a fundamental change in the business landscape of the GCC since the ...
READ MORE
The MEED-Mashreq Energy Partnership was initiated in May 2018 to examine the opportunities and challenges expected to be created by future energy trends across the Middle East and North Africa ...
READ MORE
Increased spending is needed to avoid future oil shortages, say industry leaders in Abu Dhabi
There is a growing consensus among international oil companies and global energy analysts that peak demand ...
READ MORE
The Kuwait Oil Company project is worth $4.1bn
The first phase of the Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) Ratqa Lower Fars Heavy Oil megaproject is on course to be completed in March ...
READ MORE
Manufacturing and industrial growth are quickly emerging as flagbearers for the UAE’s long-term economic diversification ambitions
Enabling a flourishing local industrial and manufacturing economy has long been a strategic priority for ...
READ MORE
Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia have received significant international financing in the past month
Several countries in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region have received additional external funding over the ...
READ MORE
Expectations of rising global demand come amid vaccine optimism
Oil forecasters are expecting global crude prices to move higher in 2021 amid increasing optimism about the viability of Covid-19 vaccines.
Forecasters from ...
READ MORE
Sukuk sees traction on the back of green
Middle East contractors most impacted by Covid-19
Government support vital for clean energy growth
Projects are now looking for investors not contractors
MEED Mashreq Energy Partnership – Annual roundup
ENERGY CLUB 1: Investing in the future of
EXCLUSIVE: Phase one of Kuwait heavy oil scheme
The road ahead for UAE manufacturing
Funding relief for Mena states amid Covid-19
Oil price expected to move higher in 2021
28 November, 2017 | .By JENNIFER AGUINALDO
