A former head of London Heathrow Airport has been hired by Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) to spearhead the construction of Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone (KPIZ), the emirate's largest infrastructure project. Tony Douglas was selected as chief executive for his "great experience and talent in the management of infrastructure projects", said Dr Sultan Ahmed al Jaber, the chairman of ADPC.
Mr Douglas most recently was a chief operating officer with Laing O'Rourke, a UK construction firm with business in Abu Dhabi, including Al Raha Beach property development. He said he was thrilled with the appointment "at this time with the company taking centre stage in the diversification of Abu Dhabi's economy". "Our remit is broad, from managing ports throughout the emirate, supporting partners with their infrastructure projects, ensuring trade is encouraged to creating one of the world's largest concentrations of industry and business at the KPIZ," Mr Douglas said.
KPIZ will be developed across 400 sq km in Taweelah, near the border with Dubai, and will be able to handle 15 million containers annually and about 35 million tonnes of general cargo when it is complete in the coming decades. Its first phase is set to open in 2012, replacing Abu Dhabi's existing main port of Mina Zayed. @Email:igale@thenational.ae