AD Ports Group, China Harbour Engineering Company to jointly build topside infrastructure

AD Ports Group and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC)  have inked an agreement to build buildings and topside infrastructure for CMA Terminals Khalifa Port, a joint venture owned by CMA CGM’s subsidiary CMA Terminals (with a 70 percent stake) and AD Ports Group (with a 30 percent stake).

The agreement includes the development of the first net zero carbon administration building to be constructed for the joint venture.

The administration building will be a highly energy-efficient building that is powered from renewable energy sources and offsets.

In addition, the agreement will see the development of 28 office and utilities across the terminal, more than one million square metres of yard paving, reefer stacks, STS cranes and access roads.

The terminal is expected to be operational in H1 2025. Once completed, CMA Terminals Khalifa Port will have an initial capacity of 1.8 million TEUs, will be fully integrated with Etihad Rail. It will also significantly enhance Khalifa Port’s connectivity and position as a key gateway for the region.

Saif Al Mazrouei, CEO, Ports Cluster – AD Ports Group, said, “We are making positive progress on the development of CMA Terminals Khalifa Port, which will be one of the most modern and innovative terminals in the region upon completion. Under the guidance of our wise leadership, we are incorporating sustainability principles into our construction plan, with the development of our first net-zero administration building. Our design practice supports the UAE’s wider targets for building the circular economy, recycling construction and operational waste and using high recycled content materials.”

Yang Zhiyuan, CEO of CHEC Middle East Division, said, “We are proud to be selected for this flagship project, contributing to the development of what will be one of the most advanced terminals in the region. In particular, we will ensure that the design and construction of buildings and topside infrastructure will meet the highest architectural and sustainability standards.”

With fewer than 500 net-zero commercial buildings in the world, AD Ports Group’s first net-zero building will represent a major milestone for the company and for the UAE. It will be one of the company’s first projects to use significant amounts of concrete with recycled content and save the equivalent of 38,721 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide over 30 years.

David Gatward, chief engineering and technical services officer, AD Ports Group, explained, “With this project, we are looking to demonstrate that meaningful sustainability measures can be incorporated into the construction process with only a negligible increase in the budget. The long-term benefits of building the net-zero carbon administration centre for CMA Terminals Khalifa Port will be significant and will create the opportunity for AD Ports Group to offer green business models for future tenants across our assets.”

In other news, AD Ports Group and TotalEnergies have partnered to explore solar related opportunities. Under the agreement, each partner will contribute its expertise and technologies to conduct a series of feasibility studies for distributed solar generation at KEZAD.

Read: AD Ports Group, TotalEnergies partner to explore solar opportunities