Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) has inaugurated its first commercial service station inside Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central (DWC) to meet the growing fuel requirements at Dubais fast-growing new commercial and cargo airport.

The inaugural celebration was attended by Nader Al Fardan, Senior Manager of ENOC Industrial Products Marketing, and Chris Garton, Executive Vice President, Operations for Dubai Airports. They also honoured various partners and stakeholders who have been associated with the project for their support to ensure the successful opening of the fuel station.

The state-of-the-art fuel station, built to the highest safety standards, is the first of three stations being built by ENOC in cooperation with Dubai Aviation Engineering projects, at both Dubai Airports. The two other commercial stations are currently being built within Dubai International Airport.

Al Fardan said: We are thankful to Dubai Airports for their support as well as to our partners for enabling the on-schedule opening of the commercial fuel station. The airport is fast gaining importance as a hub that complements the operations of the Dubai International Airport, supported by Dubais global ranking as the fifth most popular destination for global travellers as per the recent MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index. The strategic location of Al Maktoum International near the Dubai Expo 2020 site and the ongoing infrastructure development will make it an even busier destination in the near future.

He added: The fuel station at Al Maktoum International is part of a long-term strategic partnership between ENOC and Dubai Airports. With Dubais aviation infrastructure set to become the largest of its kind in the world, ENOCs Ground Support Equipment fuel stations will serve as the Energy Partner of Choice at the airports, supporting their operational efficiency.

Al Maktoum Internationals first phase, now completed and fully operational, has the capacity to handle over 600,000 tonnes of cargo per annum, and operates 24x7 on an A380-compatible, 4.5 km runway. The facilities include a 66,000 sq m single-level passenger terminal, 64 remote aircraft stands, an advanced air traffic control tower, fire stations and line maintenance services.

ENOCs subsidiary Horizon Terminals Limited is currently on schedule with the construction of a new oil terminal in Jebel Ali, with a storage capacity of over 141,000 cubic metres. The project also includes a 60 kilometre 16 jet fuel pipeline that links the terminal directly to the Dubai International, with a branch-off connection to the Al Maktoum International Airport.