Fujairah Grain Silos to Guard Against Food Shortages

Good progress is being made on the ‘Strategic Grain Reserve’ project on a dedicated berth on the Southern breakwater berths of the Fujairah Port.

The China Harbour Engineering Company was awarded the contract on 7 June 2010 and the construction period (commencing in September) was planned to take one year.

The value of the contract awarded by the Abu Dhabi Investment Company is AED 478 million ($130 million).

The first phase involves the establishment of 14 wheat silos and six rice silos making an initial storage capacity of 250,000 tonnes. The silos come with associated equipment including load and discharge arms.

The silos are made from reinforced concrete and are 42 metres high with a diameter of 28 metres. As they rise, they are becoming quite visible as one approaches the Fujairah Port.

The purpose of the project is not only to provide sufficient grain reserves for the UAE but to provide an important grain transfer hub for other countries in the Persian Gulf.

The strategic location of the Fujairah Port has again been critical in the decision to establish the grain reserves in the eastern emirate. Fujairah is located outside the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, which has too often been blocked in times of war, thus affecting the flow of trade.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Image: “As they rise, they are becoming quite visible as one approaches the Fujairah Port.”