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Doha – Qatar

The Strategic Food Security Facilities’ Terminal at Hamad Port has received the first vessel loaded with two LHM 280 mobile harbor cranes and their accessories after German company Liebherr had completed their manufacture.

Today’s event signals the countdown to the operating of the state’s Strategic Food Security Facilities at Hamad Port as scheduled.

“The total percentage of work progress carried out at the site of the project, which the Ministry of Transport was charged with overseeing its construction, exceeds 93%,” Minister of Transport HE Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti said in comments on the occasion.

“In addition, the documentations for the facilities’ operator have been prepared in cooperation with an international consulting firm in accordance with best practices in this field, and in conjunction with the Committee for following up the Implementation of Food Security Policies in the Government and Private Sectors,” he added.

Minister Al-Sulaiti also said he was proud of such a high percentage of works accomplished despite the repercussions associated with the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic, which affected several economies around the world directly and indirectly, as well as contractors of megaprojects and suppliers.

He said the construction of the State’s SFSF has followed best global standards and manufacturing practices and deployed latest world technologies to raise the capabilities of storage, packing, transportation and handling operations.

For his part, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry, said: “This vital project comes in line with the Qatar National Food Security Strategy, and will contribute to enhancing the State’s reserve capabilities, as well as securing, strengthening and developing the strategic stock system for food, consumer, and catering goods. This feat would further consolidate Qatar’s position as a regional leader in the area of strategic stock sufficiency, and reaffirm its ability to achieve food security and meet its people’s needs."

The State of Qatar has launched many initiatives aimed at implementing integrated mechanisms that would enhance and raise its strategic stock, and support its development of food security policies, especially since the latter is key to the State’s security and economic independence, His Excellency added.

The LHM 280 is designed for rapid, versatile and efficient cargo handling up to a maximum lifting capacity of 84 tons and 40 meter maximum radius for multitasks and necessary usage in operations.

Eng. Nabil AlKhaldi, Executive Director of Hamad Port Project, said that the LHM 280 makes the right solution for all cargo rapid handling needs for food products, that is, containers, general cargo, bulk materials or heavy lifts. It also features special multi-axle undercarriage system, superior cruciform supporting base, Liebherr Litronic crane control and management system, ergonomically design operator’s tower cabin and unique Liebherr anti-corrosion treatment. Further, each crane is equipped with headset telephone system, a generator, a central lubrication system, video monitoring system, anti-collision system for the jib, lightning rod and aircraft warning lights.

The SFSF project at Hamad Port, on an area of approximately 53 hectares at an estimated cost of QR 1.6 billion, supports the country’s self-sufficiency plans, aiming to create sustainable development for the coming generations. It is also a new addition to Hamad Port’s record of achievements, thus boosting its huge potential capabilities, modern facilities and advanced systems for increasing Qatar’s trade with the world.

The set plans to complete the development and readiness stages of the State’s SFSF at Hamad Port have taken into account the latest and most advanced methodologies. The facilities constitute an independent terminal with a docking berth of 575 meters (quay wall) in length and 12.5 meters in depth; standalone and fully functional for unloading, storing, loading, transporting, processing, refining, and packing preparation of three main food commodities; sugar, rice, and edible oils; and including a production line for animal feed ingredients.

In addition, this project is unique within the region with a storage capacity for a period of 2 years for the three main commodities, as it contains silos for long-term storage and huge warehouses with infrastructure and exceptional equipment to maintain such storage capacity to meet the needs of 3 million people, in accordance with relevant international standards.