Business & Finance Club - Dubai: A fifth major contract for Abu Dhabi's Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone has been awarded.

The Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) yesterday said that an infrastructure works contract worth Dh484.6 million had been awarded to Consolidated Contracting Engineering and Procurement S.A.L. (CCC).

The agreement is for the construction, fit-out, testing and commissioning of the civil and structural works for Industrial Zone Area ‘A'.

The contract includes the construction of a 4.5km three-lane carriageway and a 1.5km four-lane carriageway linking the onshore port to the industrial zone.

It also features the construction of seven 11kV substations and pumping stations as well as the provision of site-wide utilities such as electricity, telecoms, potable water, combined waste water and irrigation.

Tony Douglas, ADPC chief executive officer, said: "We look forward to working with our partners Consolidated Contracting Engineering and Procurement S.A.L. (CCC) on this world class project with their commitment to delivering on time and to budget. The announcement represents an exciting milestone in the Industrial Zone's bright future."

Upon completion, the Khalifa Port Industrial Zone will be one of the world's biggest industrial zones. It is four times bigger than Abu Dhabi Island, two-thirds the size of Singapore and a quarter the size of Greater London.

Located midway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, it will commence operations in 2012 and comprise 420 square km of land organised into clusters for aluminium, steel, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and other major sectors.

Kareem Murad, lead analyst for logistics and transportation at Dubai-based investment bank Shuaa Capital, said: "The aim is to develop an industrial zone supported by transportation infrastructure; a model similar to that of Jebel Ali. By [the time of] completion the port will have a capacity of around 15 million TEU (Twenty Foot Equivalent Units)."