Oman Shipping Co has signed a 15-year contract with Sohar Aluminium to carry 690,000 mt/year of alumina from Australia to Oman, the shipping company said last week.
The agreement is to be serviced by two dedicated 57,000 dwt Supramax bulk carriers. The first, 'Jewel of Shinas' delivered its first alumina shipment to Sohar last Wednesday comprising 55,000 mt from Gove in Australia's Northern Territory.
The second ship, 'Jewel of Sohar' is slated for completion in the first quarter of 2012, OSC said. The company had commissioned Japan's IHI Shipyard to build both ships.
Jewel of Shinas is OSC's first bulk carrier. The company is active in the transportation of crude oil, LNG, chemicals, containerized and general cargoes.
Sohar Aluminium can produce 360,000-370,000 mt/year of aluminum. Shareholder Rio Tinto which has a 20% share in the company, supplies the raw material alumina from Australia.
The Times of Oman reported April 25 that Sohar Aluminium was considering doubling its smelting capacity within three years. The newspaper quoted Sohar CEO Henk Pauw as saying to a visiting media delegation that a decision would be made in November, and it would depend largely on whether there would be enough natural gas to support the expansion.
Sohar Aluminium's other shareholders are Oman Oil (40%) and Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (40%).
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