Qatar Chamber vice-chairman Mohamed bin Towar al-Kuwari (right) hands over a token of recognition to Hamed Nasser of the Oman Chamber of Commerce & Industry – Mining and Quarries Committee. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam
By Peter Alagos
Business Reporter
Oman’s gabbro resources are adequate enough to supply Qatar with 10mn tonnes of raw materials per year for its construction needs, particularly infrastructure preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, an Omani businessman told Gulf Times.
Speaking on behalf of Hamed Nasser, who led a trade delegation from the Oman Chamber of Commerce & Industry – Mining and Quarries Committee, the businessman stressed, “That is exactly why we came here – to determine the capacity of Qatar’s ports and the volume of raw materials such as gabbro it can receive.”
“We are scheduled to visit two Qatar ports, which include the new Hamad Port where we aim to verify its capacity and how much more it can accommodate once more infrastructure projects are in full swing,” the spokesperson said on the sidelines of a business meeting at the Qatar Chamber headquarters yesterday.
Oman is rich in gabbro, a dark, coarse-grained, intrusive igneous rock chemically equivalent to basalt, and is highly-sought after in the construction industry for its hardiness, strength, and density.
He said, “We are looking at the future of these big projects. We know that Qatar will be increasing gabbro requirements and Oman is seeking this market to see whether we could increase our supply capacity.
“These things go hand in hand and in coordinating with Gulf requirements. We also can increase the foundation of our loading capacities at the port and packing capacity of the ships once we have seen these facilities.”
According to the spokesperson, Oman has already exported a total of 1mn tonnes of gabbro to Qatar. “Oman is ready to supply whatever number of tonnes that Qatar will require. The supply of gabbro can go up to 10mn tonnes depending on the requirement. We can be in that position easily,” he added.
Qatar Chamber vice-chairman Mohamed bin Towar al-Kuwari said Qatar’s massive infrastructure projects leading to the 2022 games and Qatar National Vision 2030 require a huge amount of raw materials.
“While Oman has already been a steady supplier of minerals and raw materials for Qatar’s construction needs, the meeting also aims to enhance that trade relationship of business community between the two countries,” al-Kuwari said.
Asked if upcoming megaprojects would elevate the prices of construction materials such as gabbro, al-Kuwari said, “Due to stiff competition among suppliers, I believe the prices of raw materials will come down.”
Al-Kuwari also noted that Qatar is not giving preference to any supplier, and stressed that the country has always maintained an open market.
“But historically, Qatar and Oman had shared deep relations and the country is an excellent source of minerals. They have been known for that, which is why we expect them to be a significant player in activities involving Qatar’s megaprojects,” al-Kuwari stressed.
Acknowledging the space limitations of the Doha Port, al-Kuwari said the chamber, along with the business community and the private sector, are looking forward to the opening of the new Hamad Port.
“The new port will play an important role in terms of import capacity. The Al Ruwais Port is also promising in addressing the limited space requirements of the current port,” al-Kuwari said.