AD Ports gets Egypt House sign-off on Safaga concession + Zajel sets up new freight forwarding department

PORTS-

AD Ports one step closer to Safaga: The Egyptian parliament’s Transport Committee approved a draft bill allowing Egypt’s Transport Ministry to hand AD Ports a USD 200 mn 30-year concession to build, manage, operate, and maintain a multipurpose terminal at the Red Sea port of Safaga. The ministry is looking to upgrade Egypt’s ports with the help of international companies with expertise in port management and operation, the bill’s explanatory note said. The bill will be put up for discussion and voted on when the House reconvenes on 15 October.

More from Safaga- Egypt’s Red Sea Ports Authority inked a contract with the state-owned Canal Shipping Agencies and the Suez Shipping and Unloading Company for the management and operation rights of two cargo storage yards in Safaga Port. The contract spans seven years for a 24k square meter area and five years for a 5.1k square meter area.

The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani)and the General Authority for Survey andGeospatial Information (GEOSA) have inked an MoU to coordinate their activities, according to a statement. The agreed-upon framework looks to boost the efficiency of government expenditure on surveying and geospatial studies at the Kingdom’s ports, streamline governance and data sharing between the concerned bodies, and promote research, trade, and logistics activities with the aim of bolstering the national economy, the statement said.

LOGISTICS HANDLING-

UAE logistics and courier Zajel has established a new freight forwarding department, according to a press release. The new freight forwarding department aims to cater to various industries and related projects in the region and abroad, and deliver logistics solutions to its clients via air, sea, and land transport, according to the release. The new department transported a mega oil and gas shipment of 500 tons of oil and gas equipment from UAE’s Jebel Ali Port to Iraq’s Umm Qasr Port, as part of its inaugural project, according to the release. The department transported these using break bulk, special equipment such as flat racks, open top containers, and standard containers.

APM Terminals has r eached almost half way of its ambition to run all global terminals on renewable electricity — with 40% of all its consumed electricity coming from renewable sources, according to a press release. The figure, described as a “modest calculation” by APM head Sahar Rashidbeigi, comes as the company announced last year its ambition to be fully carbon neutral, and is turning to equipment electrification, energy optimization, and renewable electricity such as solar energy, according to the release. The company is continuing to retrofit and replace equipment that run on fossil fuels with these alternatives, and has done so recently in Bahrain’s Khalifa Bin Salman Port with a USD 10 mn solar power project that will reduce terminal emissions by 65%.

TRANSPORT-

The Saudi Electric Company (SEC) has sna pped up a 25% stake in Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Company for SAR 254 mn,according to a disclosure on Tadawul. SEC, which is primarily owned by the KSA’ sovereign Public Investment Fund (PIF), is set to introduce 5k fast chargers across 1k locations in cities and roads connecting them by 2030. The company is looking to partner with EV companies to meet future charging demands, boost private sector involvement, and promote the domestic development of R&D and manufacturing of technologically advanced materials.

ALSO WORTH KNOWING-

• Dubai Customs officials met with express shipping c ompanies to strengthen e-commerce operations and introduce a novel e-commerce platform to streamline supply chains, enhance distribution, and lower costs. (Wam)
• Bahrain -based leasing company Zayani Leasing has signed an agreement to deliver a fleet of vehicles to quick-service restaurant Jasmi's Corporation as part of its efforts to expand its presence and support the growth of businesses in Bahrain. (Press release)
• Saudi Arabia’s Transport Minister Saleh Al Jasser issued logistical licenses, signed agreements for short address services, and established training cooperation agreements with the Saudi Logistics Academy during meetings with officials from various companies. (Statement)
• Abu D habi’s Integrated Transport Center (ITC ) has rolled out its Mobile Traffic Management Centre (Mobile-TMC), a mobile unit equipped with advanced technologies supported by AI and cutting-edge communication devices. The mobile unit is meant to help effectively manage traffic during special events. (Statement)