23 March 2015
In the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium Representative of His Majesty The King of Belgium & HE Qatar's Ambassador to Belgium Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al-Thani

QPMC Doha, Qatar - Head Office: As part of Qatar Primary Materials Company's (QPMC) expansion plans, and in light of the two licenses QPMC has recently acquired to set up mining operations in the Khatmat Malaha area in the Sultanate of Oman, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between QPMC and Belgian engineering consultant, port and logistical operator Rent-A-Port to initiate works on limestone and gabbro quarries in addition to a one kilometer long jetty to quarry and transport over 3 million tons of gabbro and marketable primary materials every year by barges to Qatar.

The signing ceremony which was held last March 22nd in Fateh Al Khair Ballroom at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Doha, was graced by Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium, representative of His Majesty The King of Belgium and HE Qatar's Ambassador to Belgium Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al-Thani, alongside a high level Belgian business delegation, helps bolster friendly bilateral relations between the countries of Qatar and Belgium and gives weight to this strategic memorandum of understanding and project.

The MoU was signed by QPMC's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Engineer Eisa Al Hammadi, and Rent-A-Port Managing Director (MD), Mr. Marc Stordiau commissioning Rent-A-Port to consult on and manage the project and related operations at Khatmat Malaha and announcing the beginning of Phase I expected to be completed in four months and which entails submitting a technical, financial and operational feasibility study in addition to an integrated mining operational plan. Phase II and III encompass respectively, the design and tendering for Design&Build contracts and the supervision during the execution of these contracts and commissioning of the facilities.

Commenting on the project and the partnership with Rent-A-Port, Engineer Eisa Al Hammadi, QPMC CEO stated: "As a company established on the instruction of the Qatari government to ensure supplies of building materials in support of the booming construction industry in Qatar, QPMC is bound to constantly explore new mines in search of primary materials and with Rent-A-Port as an expert consultant, we hope not only to maximize output from Khatmat Malaha quarries and ensure most efficient operations at controlled costs, but to also achieve a solid leap in the bilateral relations between Qatar and Belgium as two friendly countries. We are hopeful that it will be another milestone in enhancing the already robust trade relations that exist between both the countries, and Her Highness's attendance of the signing event echoes this same objective."

For his part, Marc Stordiau, Rent-A-Port Managing Director said "We at Rent-A-Port take great pride in associating ourselves with QPMC by providing services to QPMC in the  design and feasibility of the said Khatmat Malaha quarry and jetty, also of the new Lusail jetty, cement silo and conveyor stacker project in Qatar.

We believe that between our professional services and long expertise and QPMC's dedication and financial robustness, QPMC is becoming a partner of choice for foreign companies looking to facilitate Qatar's thriving construction sector ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup and beyond." Stordiau further thanked Her Highness Princess Astrid, whose presence, he said, "gave preeminence to the Khatmat Malah project and communicated Belgium's recognition of Belgian private sector companies operating in Qatar, the achievements of which, help raise the profile of the country and the caliber of professional services and expertise it possesses."

For More Information:
Loucia Issac Seropian
Communications Advisor
M. +974 55005785
QPMC - Corporate - Head Office
Doha, Qatar

© Press Release 2015