Muscat – As part of its efforts to stimulate the economy and revitalise commercial traffic, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) announced that the trial operation of Shinas pier will start in the fourth quarter of 2022.

An official at MTCIT, said, “Eighty per cent of the pier in Khatmat Malaha in the wilayat of Shinas has been completed, and trial operation will begin in the last quarter of 2022. The Shinas pier aims to export mining materials and link it with the mining sites through mobile flyovers to transport materials directly from the pier and export them abroad.”

The pier will enable the port to receive more commercial and sail boats.

The pier is 1,800m long, 8-12 meters deep, and has a capacity of 7mn tonnes annually. Qatar Primary Materials Company (OPMC) is the investor in the project at an estimated cost of RO50mn.

In February this year, MTCIT had announced that it plans to develop seven ports.

The ministry confirmed that it will offer investment opportunities to develop and manage a number of ports – Khasab, Shinas, Shaleem, Shanna, Masirah, Manji and Sadah.

“The ministry will also prepare a study for the establishment of yacht marinas, the establishment of a berth in the port of Shinas, and the inauguration of the Oman Logistics Platform.”

MTCIT will launch the ‘Logistics Land Bridge’ initiative, which aims to create a link between North Batinah and Dhahirah governorate, and between North Batinah and Buraimi. This will raise the efficiency of the roads that lead to the borders.

According to the ministry, several initiatives in maritime affairs, including a new navigation system, establishment of small marine industrial zones for the maintenance of medium and small vessels, and the Al Nomani project to register ships will stimulate Oman’s national income.