JEDDAH, 16 February 2006 — The government will soon establish a new port in Ras Al-Zour for exporting minerals, Transport Minister Jabara Al-Seraisry announced yesterday. This will increase the total number of seaports in the Eastern Province to four, he added.
Speaking to reporters after attending the launch of a new ship named Al-Zamil 13 in Dammam, he said the land-bridge project linking the Kingdom’s east with west was progressing well, as tenders would be called shortly to carry out the landmark project.
Eastern Province Governor Prince Muhammad ibn Fahd launched the ship, which was built by Al-Zamil for Maintenance and Operations. He also gave the green signal to build four more ships. Al-Seraisry commended the Al-Zamil Company for its marine transport services.
The minister said the government had allocated SR7 billion for road projects in its 2005 budget and SR8 billion for this year.
“We have already invited tenders to implement half of these projects,” he said.
Al-Seraisry said the government’s decision to privatize management, maintenance and operation of port facilities was yielding fruits. “Six years after taking this decision, we see an increase in revenues and productivity and a decrease in expenditures,” he said.
He also unveiled plans to expand King Abdul Aziz Port in Dammam and King Fahd Industrial Port in Jubail.
“Efforts are under way to establish a fourth port in Ras Al-Zour, which will specialize in the export of minerals. It will soon join our ports system,” he added.
In a related development, Al-Seraisry chaired a meeting of the Saudi Railway Organization’s board of directors in Dammam yesterday, the Saudi Press Agency said. The meeting discussed SRO’s new projects, including construction of a new railway line in Al-Ahsa to promote passenger and goods transportation in the city.
The organization also intends to purchase modern passenger trains and 200 double-decker cargo carriages, as well as set up a new signal and communication system.
In 2004, SRO carried 315,000 containers compared to 280,000 containers a year before. Its trains transported 1.23 million passengers in 2004 against 1.12 million in 2003, a statement issued by the organization said. SRO generated SR295 million in revenue in 2004 compared to SR245 million in 2003, registering an increase of 20 percent.
