Largest Integrated Cold Storage Facility To Be Controlled By Maersk Operates

An agreement was signed in the presence of HE Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, and Chairman of Mawani.

The ceremony was also attended by H.E. Mr. Omar Hariri, President of Mawani, alongside Mohammad Shihab, Managing Director of Maersk Saudi Arabia, and Abdulaziz Al-Qahtani, Chairman of Al-Qahtani Holding Company, who mentioned the report.

report stated, "The deal is expected to strengthen the Kingdom’s food security and significantly drive up its food trade volumes through the Arabian Gulf port."

It added, "besides enhancing the maritime sector’s logistics offerings in general and cold chain solutions in specific as per the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS)," to "position Saudi Arabia as a global logistics hub."

The cold storage occupying an area of 30,000 square metres has an annual capacity to hold 168,000 pallets of fruits and vegetables, frozen goods, processed foods, and dairy products.

According to the report, equipped with world-class temperature and humidity control systems, the facility will source around 15% of its energy needs through 600 KW of solar panels to cut back on carbon emissions.

It also added that the facility also comes with an on-site water treatment installation to meet its requirements in-house while eliminating the need to carry water via trucks to external water treatment plants, thereby reducing the carbon footprint resulting from driving these vehicles up to 87,600 km annually.

Also, electric vehicles will be used to move people and goods between the cold stores and King Abdulaziz Port. This is a key step toward making the Saudi Green Initiative a reality. 

By Sumita Pawar