$138m Bahrain port to be operational by year-end

Construction work at Bahrain's new BD52 million ($138m) Kahlifa bin Salman Port is on track and the port is scheduled to become operational by the end of the year, said a senior official.

The project, located in Hidd, covers 110 hectares and is seen as one of the biggest modern seaport complexes in the region.

The project is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of this year. Infrastructure costs are estimated at about BD31.4m, while construction will cost about BD16.7m.

"Work is going on according to schedule and we hope that the port will be up and running by the end of the year," said Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa, chairman of the General Organisation of Sea Ports.

The port will be a self-sustaining complex and will include a power station, water treatment plant and car parks apart from modern jetties and cargo facilities.

It will be integrated with the newly formed Bahrain Logistics Zone, which has already attracted the attention of major regional logistics players and is hoping for a further $600m expansion.

"The new port will provide facilities and services of high international standards to traders, local industries, shipping lines and other businesses. The port, combined with the Bahrain Logistics Zone, which is also nearing completion, will make Bahrain a major logistics hub in the region," said Shaikh Daij.

He added that transition of customs operations from Mina Salman to Khalifa bin Salman Port would be made smoothly and modernised customs systems and simplified processes would be put in place to enhance the quality of services at the port.