The Ministry of Transport confirmed today, Friday, that advanced completion rates have been achieved in the Al-Faw Grand Port projects, indicating that the project will enter the trial phase after completing the works and ensuring a suitable environment. It noted that more than 90% of the Development Road plans have been completed.
The Director of Media and Government Communication in the ministry, Hussein Ahmad, stated in a remark reviewed by the News Video Agency that "the Al-Faw Grand Port project is witnessing good progress on the level of works, as the completion rate of the immersed tunnel has reached 98%, while the completion rate of the interchange yard is 90%, and the five docks have been completed."
He added that "some equipment malfunctioned due to the Strait of Hormuz crisis after the completion of the works related to the project such as docks, interchange yards, and others," noting that "the project will enter the trial phase, but this phase requires a safe environment, and with the resolution of the Strait of Hormuz issue, the trial operation will begin, as it cannot proceed under the current crisis."
He continued that "the works will be fully completed, and after a suitable general environment is provided, the trial phase will begin and then move to operation, which could be entirely Iraqi or in partnership."
Regarding the competition of the port with other projects in the region, Ahmad clarified that "there is a campaign by some who are misinformed and aim to portray the project as a competitor to similar projects in the region," emphasizing that "the project does not compete with any other projects in the region, but rather complements them, as it will be the main artery for the strategic Development Road project."
He pointed out that "operating the port will provide opportunities and enhance Iraq's position as a regional and strategic link for transport and economic cooperation projects," explaining that "these projects represent sustainable peace, as described by the Minister of Transport, since economic cooperation and transport projects represent a project of sustainable peace among countries, and therefore, these economic projects complement other projects."
Regarding the Development Road, Ahmad mentioned that "the end of last July saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Turkish side during the visit of the government delegation headed by the Prime Minister to Turkey, accompanied by the Minister of Transport, followed by preparatory meetings and meeting minutes that paved the way for completing the final draft of the joint cooperation agreement concerning the development of transport projects and transport infrastructure."
He added that "a number of entities and ministries, in addition to the Central Bank and the Ministry of Oil, participated in preparing the agreement, part of which pertains to the Development Road," clarifying that "the agreement is comprehensive for developing infrastructure and cooperation in the transport field, including the strategic Development Road project."
He indicated that "the final draft has currently returned to the relevant authorities in Turkey and Iraq for review and opinion, after which the agreement will be signed and ratified within the Parliament and the Presidency," noting that "the contracting phase comes after the agreement, as each project goes through three phases: the memorandum of understanding, the agreement, and the contract."
He confirmed that "achieving the memorandum of understanding and the final draft within a short period is a strong indication of the seriousness in executing the project," pointing out that "the overall designs of the Development Road will soon be announced, as the Spanish company has completed more than 90% of the land road and railway plans."
He explained that "determining the Fishkhabour point has helped facilitate the identification of the railway and land road routes, after previously being an area with a distance ranging between 90 and 100 kilometers that was undefined, and finalizing the crossing has contributed to increasing the pace of completing the plans that will be announced in the next phase."