Oman and Etihad Rail Company partners with Emirates Steel Arkan to transport raw materials from Oman to the UAE

Emirati-Omani JV Oman-Etihad Rail Companywill transport raw material from Oman to UAE through the UAE-Oman Rail Network under an agreement with Emirates Steel Arkan, the companies said in a press release. OERC will offer logistics solutions to transport Emirates Steel Arkan’s imported raw limestone from Oman to its cement factories in Al Ain in the UAE, the press release said,

The details: The agreement will see the company transport 4 to 6 mn tonnes of raw limestone a year through the logistics corridor, the statement added.

What they said: “This agreement paves the way for integrated logistics solutions for the transportation of raw materials to and from our cement plant in Al Ain, boosting our operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness, and reducing environmental impact. Furthermore, this enhances our transport infrastructure and reinforces cross-border supply chains,” Emirates Steel CEO Saeed Khalfan Al Ghafri said.

OERC isn’t new to the raw material transport scene: OERC previously signed an MoU with Omani Jindal Shadeed Iron & Steel (Jindal) to set up a green transport logistics corridor between the UAE and Jindal’s steel complex at Sohar Port through the UAE-Oman Rail Network. OERC also inked an MoU with Brazil’s Vale to work on developing logistical solutions to ship iron ore and derivatives from Vale’s industrial hub in Oman’s Sohar Port and Freezone to Vale’s factories and distribution points.

About OERC: Etihad Rail and Oman Rail signed a USD 3 bn agreement last year to establish The Oman and Etihad Rail Company, linking Oman’s Sohar Port with the UAE’s national railway network. The transport link between the UAE and Oman — first announced in September — is aimed at boosting trade between the two countries and the region. The rail line serves both passenger and freight trains.