(EnergyAsia, May 30 2012, Wednesday) — Horizon Terminals Ltd (HTL), Emirates National Oil Company’s (ENOC) wholly-owned storage terminalling operator, has started work on its US$142 million bulk liquid facility in Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone.

Equipped to receive jet fuel from marine tankers and from the nearby ENOC refinery, the 141,000 cubic metre fully automated terminal will supply jet fuel directly to the Dubai International Airporwith through dedicated 58 km pipeline when it starts up in the fourth quarter of 2013.

The terminal will also have tanker truck loading facilities connected to oil tanker berths and associated abilities to ensure seamless supply lines to other airports in the UAE.
HTL said the pipeline network includes a branch connection to the Al Maktoum International Airport.

Having recorded more than 51 million passenger arrivals, the Dubai International Airport expects to welcome 98 million passengers by 2020 to become the world’s third busiest airport.
Speaking at the terminal’s groundbreaking ceremony this week, Saeed Abdullah Khoory, ENOC’s CEO, said:

“The construction of the bulk liquid petroleum terminal underlines Enoc’s commitment to partner in the ambitious and visionary growth of Dubai and support its economic diversification initiatives.

“The terminal adds great value to Dubai’s aviation industry, one of the fastest growing economic sectors of the Emirate.

“This is further bolstered by the growth of Dubai-owned Emirates Airline and the increasing number of annual aircraft movements, set to clock over 560,000 by year 2020. This tremendous growth in the aviation and airline industry needs to be sustained with a timely and reliable supply of jet fuel, which is the primary goal of this new terminal,”

Also present at the event were Yusr Sultan, ENOC’s managing director (terminals), Fahad Askar, HTL’s deputy director of operations, and other senior executives from the two companies.
Established in 1993 as a wholly-owned company of the Dubai government, ENOC invests in the full chain of the oil and gas industry.