Building Investment (Jan - Feb 2017)

News & Events
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F-Ring Road is the sixth Expressway Programme
road to open for public use;
A 25 metre deep ‘light rail tunnel’ is being
constructed as part of the Lusail Expressway
project.
and aligning all stakeholders to support
them.
“At the time, we had recently assisted
with the expansion of the Port of Fujairah
in the UAE; so, in our first review of the
project, we knew that a more detailed
understanding of the impact on the supply
chain would be required. We recommended
advanced simulation modelling to evaluate
the likely effects of the new design,”
explained Hallahan.
“Our background work was extremely
detailed and technical but, based on our
internationally recognised award-winning
innovation, we were able to present
QPMC with a clear report that included
animations and graphics to illustrate how
the port and stockyard could operate
without modifications to the original plan.
The model highlighted bottlenecks that
would limit the Port’s ability to maximise
its capacity and brought the client’s focus
onto resolving these issues.”
The modelling presented by Aurecon
clearly demonstrated that to achieve
the targeted throughput, changes were
required from all supply chain partners.
This included both upstream (quarries
and shipping companies) and downstream
(consignees) parties.
One example presented in the model
demonstrated how stowage plans (how
ships were loaded) at the port of origin
could significantly impact unloading
times in Qatar. If the ships were loaded
with preferred loading plans, they could
be unloaded in 20 hours. Without the
preferred plan, unloading could take up to
50 hours.
Aurecon also worked with QPMC
to bring better efficiency to the portside
stockyard. Aurecon showed how consignees
should collect their cargo within 21 days
to ensure the stockyard always has space
to unload other ships in the queue. This
information could then be factored into
the process of establishing the fee-charging
structure, and ensure it was designed to
encourage consignees to support portside
stockyard requirements.
Evolving a business case
Drawing on their extensive business
advisory experience, the Aurecon team
created a plan that would deliver better
asset utilisation to QPMC, and allow the
company to maximise the return on its
investment. While the proposed design
had the physical capacity to handle 30
million tonnes of material a year, changes
to business processes, port charges and
agreements were necessary to ensure it
achieved its targeted throughput.
In addition, through its collaboration
with Aurecon to solve the throughput issue,
QPMC has also evolved its business, from a
port operator into an end-to-end logistics
player. This progression is also helping the
company play its part in support of the
Qatar Vision.
“We had a team of 14 people working
locally in Qatar, but we were supported
brilliantly by over 100 of our colleagues
from all over the world,” said Hallahan.
“A key contributor to our success was our
commitment to the client’s success. By
showing them other possible options to
their plan that were in their best interest,
we built a relationship based on mutual
trust and respect. We are proud to play a
key role in the development of QPMC and
ultimately, Qatar.”
Official opening
On 8 December 2016, QPMC celebrated
the inauguration of the Bulk Material
Handling System (BMHS) project. The
ceremony took place at Mesaieed Port
under the patronage and attendance of HE
the Prime Minister of Qatar and Minister
of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser
bin Khalifa Al-Thani, and in the presence
of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin
Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of
Fujairah, QPMC Chairman Engineer Abdel
Aziz Al-Ansari and Chief Executive Officer,
Eisa Al-Hammadi, QPMC board members,
Qatari ministers and dignitaries, in
addition to representatives from the BMHS
operating company and Chief Executive
Officers from various government and
private sector organisations.
Aurecon in Qatar
Aurecon’s office in Qatar was established
in 2012. In addition to this Port project, the
company has assisted with the development
of Qatar Science and Technology Park, the
Doha Expressway and the Doha Metro Red
Line South Underground, among others.
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