Vale is one of the world’s largest mining companies in terms of iron ore and pellets production and is the largest nickel producer in the world. With an initial investment of close to $2 billion into the deep-water jetty and operations in Sohar, Vale in Oman employs advanced technologies including an innovative environmental management system. In the first four years of full operations by Vale in Oman, from 2012-2016, over 45 million tonnes of iron ore were imported to Sohar from Brazil.
In addition to Vale in Oman’s operations, Jindal Shadeed’s DRI plant and rolling mills and Sohar Aluminium are significant importers of dry bulk, as well as a number of other smaller metals facilities in the Port and adjacent Freezone. The growth in dry bulk passing through the port has had a significant and positive knock-on effect on downstream industries in the Freezone, and has played a significant role in helping to generate more jobs.
“We are all immensely proud to be named Dry Bulk Port of the Year and congratulate Vale in Oman and our other tenants’ teams on their achievements,” said Mark Geilenkirchen, chief executive officer of Sohar.
“Dry bulk imports are essential for our metals cluster in Sohar and our aim is to manage this in an environmentally sound and sustainable way. We utilise state-of-the-art technologies in the dry bulk terminal, including i-MOOR for real-time load monitoring; laser-guided Berthing Approach Systems for increased efficiency and safety; Environmental Monitoring Systems which give us values for a full-range of weather parameters; and special containment systems that mean there is effectively no cargo spill into the ocean.”

This year’s award was sponsored by TBA Group, a leading international port planning and port operations consultancy.