Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE’s national railway network, has announced yet another strategic partnership to offer logistics services to a company operating in the regional construction sector. Stevin Rock, one of the world’s largest quarrying companies, has chosen to utilise rail transport to augment its distribution network in the UAE.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Faris Saif Al Mazrouei, Acting CEO of Etihad Rail, and Naser Bustami, General Manager of Stevin Rock. Under the terms of the partnership, Stevin Rock will be using the 1,200km UAE rail network to distribute bulk commodities from its three quarries located in Kadra (Shawkah), Al Ghail and Khor Khuwair to Etihad Rail distribution terminals across the country.
By 2020, rail will facilitate Stevin Rock in transporting an annual volume of more than 22 million tons of mined products and materials to real estate developers and construction companies in the UAE and GCC.
“It is promising to see yet another company recognise rail as the preferred transport solution for its logistics network in the region,” said Al Mazrouei. “Working with one of the world’s leading mining companies will significantly increase the bulk commodity volume Etihad Rail will transport and consequently, will improve the operational efficiency of overall business.”
“We are pleased to establish this strategic collaboration with Etihad Rail, which will provide us with a more cost-effective and reliable transport solution – especially for long-distance transit,” said Naser Bustami. “As we expand operations in the UAE and across the region, rail will allow us to move greater quantities of bulk commodity at one time and will improve transit times overall.”
The rail network will transport six million tons per year of commodities from Stevin Rock’s Shawkah quarry to various UAE distribution locations as well as to export terminals. Etihad Rail will also operate three trains each day to carry 11.9m tonnes per year of commodities from the Al Ghail quarry to distribution locations within the UAE as well as to export terminals and one train daily from Khor Khuwair Quarries adjacent to Port Saqr to distribute 4.5m tonnes per year across the emirates.
Stevin Rock, which has been operating in Ras Al Khaimah since 1975, produces and sells more than 46m tonnes of high-grade Limestone, Gabbro rock, concrete and asphalt aggregates for the construction industry. Owned by the government of Ras Al Khaimah, the mining group delivers high quality materials to some of the leading developers and construction companies in the region and beyond.
Upon completion, the Etihad Rail network will span approximately 1,200km across the UAE, transporting both freight and passengers. It will connect urban and peripheral communities, facilitate trade, open up communication channels and foster economic development across all Emirates in the UAE. The network will also form a vital part of the GCC Railway Network, linking the UAE to Saudi Arabia through Ghuwaifat in the west and Oman through Al Ain in the east.