THE Omani government has awarded a contract worth OMR55 million (US$143 million) to an unnamed party to build a general cargo terminal, along with a liquid jetty in Salalah Port, Oman News Agency reports.

Other projects in the 30-year master plan include the expansion of the container terminal to increase capacity to 40 million TEU. There are also plans to boost the port's handling capacity to 40 million tons of dry bulk commodities and five million tons of liquid products annually.

Transport Minister Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Futaisi pointed out that initial studies are currently underway for the number 7, 8 and 9 terminals in a bid to increase the capacity of the port from five million to more than seven million TEU.

Dr al-Futaisi also said that the project is important to bulk industries in the Free Zone in Salalah and for the import and export through the general cargo terminal in Salalah port.