Oman and Etihad Rail Company, the developer and operator of the UAE-Oman Rail Network signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Jindal Shadeed Iron & Steel (Jindal), an integrated steel producer in the GCC.
The MoU will see the companies establish a sustainable end-to-end transport logistics solution between Jindal’s steel complex at Sohar Port and the UAE, via the UAE-Oman Rail Network.
The agreement will allow Jindal to annually transport up to 4 million tonnes of raw materials and finished products from its steel complex at Sohar Port to the UAE.
Under the terms of the agreement, Oman and Etihad Rail Company will leverage its rail network to support Jindal in optimising operational integration through facilitated loading and unloading processes while guaranteeing rolling stock and facilities’ requirements of iron ore and steel.
Mohammed bin Zahran Al Mahrouqi, deputy CEO of Oman and Etihad Rail Company, said: “Our partnership with Jindal Shadeed Group reinforces Oman and Etihad Rail Company’s commitment to improving logistics services to meet the future needs and expectations of our customers by providing comprehensive solutions and stimulating the growth of various industrial sectors within Oman and the UAE.
“Furthermore, the MoU will enable Jindal to enhance its supply chain efficiency, benefiting from the UAE-Oman Rail Network’s fast, cost-effective, and sustainable services.”
Harsha Shetty, CEO of Jindal, said: “This is an important milestone for our company as we look forward to further expanding the reach of our high-quality, industry-leading products in the region and beyond.”
Through this collaboration, Jindal aims to not only streamline its transportation and logistics operations, but also advance its sustainability objectives and strengthen its green value chain.
Oman and Etihad Rail Company will ensure an environmentally friendly transportation and logistics solution through the Oman-UAE Rail Network, and thus, contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions in Oman and the UAE, in line with their national goals of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
It recently entered several commercial and investment partnerships with major international players in various industrial sectors to provide innovative logistics solutions and facilities, opening new corridors for economic cooperation, and unlocking promising opportunities for sustainable economic growth in Oman, the UAE, and the wider region.
Source: Gulf Business