Oman and Etihad Rail Company partner with Jindal to establish sustainable logistics solution
Abu Dhabi, UAE—Oman and Etihad Rail Company (OERC), the developer and operator of the UAE-Oman Rail Network signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jindal Shadeed Iron & Steel (Jindal), a leading integrated steel producer in the GCC, to establish a sustainable end-to-end transport logistics solution between Jindal’s steel complex at Sohar Port and the United Arab Emirates, via the UAE-Oman Rail Network.
The MoU will allow Jindal to annually transport up to 4 million tons of raw materials and finished products from its steel complex at Sohar Port to the UAE’s thriving markets.
Under the terms of the agreement, OERC will leverage its state-of-the-art rail network to support Jindal in optimizing operational integration through facilitated loading and unloading processes while guaranteeing rolling stock and facilities’ requirements of iron ore and steel.
Commenting on the agreement, Mohammed bin Zahran Al Mahrouqi, Deputy CEO of OERC, 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, for his part, 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. Our ability to seamlessly transport nearly 4 million tons of raw materials will greatly help us in our operations, supporting our ambition to reduce our carbon footprint.”
Through this collaboration, Jindal will not only streamline its transportation and logistics operations but also further advance its sustainability objectives and strengthen its green value chain. OERC will ensure an environmentally friendly transportation and logistics solution through the Oman-UAE Rail Network, 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.
OERC has recently entered several commercial and investment partnerships with major international players in various industrial sectors to provide innovative logistics solutions and facilities. This opens up new corridors for economic cooperation and unlocks promising opportunities for sustainable economic growth in Oman, the UAE, and the wider region.