Oman’s Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) is understood to be looking at the development of a new commercial port near the Sur Industrial Estate in the sultanate's eastern port city.

According to local news sources, a feasibility study for the construction of the new port is under way and is expected to be completed in the first half of 2018.

MEED understands that PEIE’s plans for the industrial zone in Sur includes a total of 24 projects including four new factories.

Local contractor Khalid bin Ahmed and Sons is also understood to have paved a one kilometre road in the area.

The report further said the total leasable area within the industrial estate is estimated at 23.66 million square metres, a portion, estimated at 6.72 million square metres, of which has already been leased.

A sewage plant in Sur Industrial Estate has also been tendered with award expected soon.

MEED also understands the consultancy project for the design and supervision of the planning and infrastructure services of the estate has been tendered, with award expected in March.

Oman currently has three major ports that process container and cargo freight. They are located in Salalah, Sohar and Duqm.

The ports have seen a major spike in volumes in 2017 in part due to the closure of sea routes in neighbouring GCC states to Qatar.