SOHAR STONES
Jamie McTaggart, General Manager
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QUARRYING FOR QUALITY IN OMAN
Aggregates are used in a variety of applications across global industry. We speak to Jamie McTaggart, General Manager at Sohar Stones LLC, about the company’s operations and expansion in the Oman region Writer: Marcus Kääpä | Project Manager: Thomas Arnold
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ituated south-west of Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Yemen, Oman is known for its part in many vast industries, such as oil and gas refining, and its substantial mining operations. Mining in Oman is largely divided into the areas of metals and bulk mining, while its location in the Middle East allows it to access multiple growing markets and economies, for instance, Southeast Asia. For Jamie McTaggart, General Manager at Sohar Stones LLC (Sohar Stones) - a leading producer and supplier of aggregates both locally and internationally, Oman has become home to a significant number of quarrying operations, which in turn has benefitted the region considerably. “These operations have made Sohar Stones a key player in the supply of aggregates to Qatar over the last four years, including several significant investments strengthening our position in the market,” he begins. “Surprisingly, during the last two years with COVID-19 having EME Outlook issue 44 | 3
SOHAR STONES created worldwide disruption, we have experienced very little impact on our aggregate export business. Our export volumes have remained consistent with Sohar Port managing their operations efficiently and uninterrupted. “We have definitely seen some big changes in the local market which contributes to around 10 percent of our business. Now the vaccination
AT A GLANCE SOHAR STONES PROJECTS Sohar Stones has a reputation for high-quality aggregates in both Qatar and Oman. The company’s quarry was one of the first operations in the area and has supplied many of the key projects in the region, including Sohar Port Expansion Project, Hamad International Airport Qatar, Batinah Expressway and many other key projects in the GCC, such as: • Asian Beach Games Project – Oman • Sohar Industrial Area Phase Seven - Sohar Oman • Shinas Port Expansion Project - Oman • Liwa Plastics Project - Oman • Batinah Sea Protection Works - Oman • Al Ain Industrial Area Nael Cement - UAE • Gate Primary Minerals Company - Qatar • Qatar Primary Minerals Company - Qatar • Al Jaber Engineering - Qatar
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programme in Oman has significantly progressed, we are starting to see projects starting up and a marginal increase in our local sales volumes in the company.”
SOHAR STONES Sohar Stones is part of the Badr Investment Group LLC (Badr). The group has been established for over 20 years and was formally known as Ali & Abdul Karim Group Co. LLC. Through Badr, Sohar Stones provides high quality crushed rock aggregates in a variety of grades for use in concrete and asphalt products, as well as supplying sub-base, fill materials and armour rock to the market. “We pride ourselves on our diverse portfolio and international reputation made possible by our innovation, drive and a dedicated workforce of over 800 staff in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region,” Jamie says. “We supply a range of high-quality gabbro aggregates for the asphalt and concrete industry in various grades to suit our customers’ requirements, with safety and quality at the forefront of all our operations. “Our quarrying operations are situated deep in the mountains of the Sohar region and strategically
located near Sohar Port to fulfil our export requirements. Our main client in Qatar, Gate Primary Materials Company (GPMC), manage the export operations from Sohar port to Messied Port in Qatar.” Sohar Stones has been operating since 2006 and has supplied a significant volume of aggregates and rock in the development of Sohar’s infrastructure and its port, as well as exporting the majority of its production to Qatar.
CONSTRUCTING A CAREER Jamie started his career in 1989 following college, after which he joined Tilcon Ltd (Tilcon) based in the north of England as a young trainee. At that time, Tilcon was one of the leading producers and suppliers of building materials, including aggregates, ready mixed concrete and asphalt throughout the UK. “Throughout my 17 years with Tilcon and then later Tarmac Ltd after an acquisition in 1999 by Anglo American, I gained experience in all aspects of the industry, finally settling in the quarry management side of the business where I found my true passion,” he explains. “I had always had ambitions of working overseas,
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General Engineering Services LLC (GENSERV)
A LEADING ENGINEERING SERVICES COMPANY SINCE 1982! Since its establishment in 1982, GENSERV has earned a reputation of being a renowned supplier of Heavy Equipments, Plant/Machinery. A highly reputed company in Oman which delivers products and services to a diverse range of industries and commercial businesses. GENSERV has long standing partnership with global brands such as VOLVO & SDLG Construction Equipments, POWERSCREEN & TEREX Crushing & Screening plants, CDE Sand washing plants, MANITOU & CROWN etc. sales@genserv-oman.com +968 - 24490755
and in 2006 when an opportunity arose with Lafarge Middle East for a significant two-year limestone quarrying operation to supply a large oil and gas project in Ras Laffan, my bags were packed and I finally left the UK for Qatar. “After completion of the Qatar project, in 2008 I accepted an opportunity to lead the quarrying business for Fujairah Bulk Shipping LLC (FBS) as General Manager in the UAE. FBS was owned by Pacific Basin Shipping and the Government of Fujairah and was initially a trading business exporting rock and aggregates to Qatar.” The company grew rapidly and in 2009 Jamie was promoted to Chief Operating Officer managing two large gabbro quarries, an export business and a land reclamation project requiring over 57 million tonnes of rock supplied from the quarrying business.
WHAT ARE AGGREGATES? Aggregates are granular materials that are used, for example in the construction and building industry and are predominantly applied in the production of both concrete and asphalt. Alternatively, aggregates are often used for base courses for roads, pipe bedding, drainage, water filtration and a multitude of other uses throughout the construction industry and become a very important and versatile resource for worldwide use.
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SOHAR STONES
EME OUTLOOK: CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR STAFF AND SUPPLY CHAIN? Jamie McTaggart, General Manager: “The key to any successful business is the staff. At Sohar Stones we are fortunate to have a dedicated and hardworking team, and it is this dedication that ensures our business goals are achieved and our company continues to grow. Sohar Stones has also secured key suppliers for our critical spares and parts for our crushers and heavy equipment, locally in Oman and as far as South Africa and the UK. “Hardrock Quarry Solutions is one of these suppliers. Located in South Africa, they have proved invaluable in the supply of quality wear parts for our processing equipment. Providing a cost-effective solution, as well as extending the life of our parts, in turn reduces downtime in our operations. “Genserv is another key supplier of spare parts for our growing fleet of heavy equipment. Sohar Stones have recently purchased two excavators including a Volvo EC750 and EC480 for face loading and quarry development, as well as two Volvo L150 wheel loaders for sales loading. Genserv also provide a service contract to ensure these machines are operational 24/7. “Sourcing quality spares for our equipment is key to maintaining our high plant availability and ensuring we continue to meet our production targets. “Currently, shipping items from any location worldwide is challenging and we experienced delays over the last 12 months, so it’s critical our procurement and maintenance team plan ahead and maintain a healthy stock of critical parts in our on-site warehouse facility.”
“I left FBS after four years and was appointed Country Operations Manager in Azerbaijan for Aztikitiyol, who are a leading supplier of aggregates and asphalt with multiple operations strategically located throughout the country,” he continues. “During my time in Azerbaijan I recruited an international operations team who successfully designed, installed and commissioned several aggregate and asphalt plants in the country, as well as providing materials to key projects including sports stadiums for the Baku 2015 European Games.” Jamie has since worked in various senior operational roles in the quarrying and mining business in continents including Asia, Australia, Africa and Europe, before joining Sohar Stones in January 2020. And over the course of his career, Jamie has had the privilege of watching the industry, and Sohar Stones itself, grow and develop.
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“WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON OUR DIVERSE PORTFOLIO AND INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR INNOVATION, DRIVE AND A DEDICATED WORKFORCE” – JAMIE MCTAGGART, GENERAL MANAGER, SOHAR STONES LLC
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT This company growth stems from the continual investment in its services to better its potential. In 2019, Sohar Stones invested in an additional processing plant to double its production capacity to over 2.5 million tonnes per annum. Also included in the investment were a fleet of dump trucks to ensure an uninterrupted supply of rock from the quarry to the company’s crushers. “It was at this time that we significantly increased our export volumes and built upon our reputation
for quality and consistency in the GCC region,” Jamie explains. “Over the next two years we further invested in upgrading our heavy equipment with the purchase of Volvo material handling equipment from its Oman dealer General Engineering Services LLC (Genserv), as well as construction of an on-site workshop facility to ensure maximum plant availability is obtained on all our plants and equipment.” Sohar Stones is currently looking into a significant investment and expansion plan to increase
its processing capabilities and strengthen the company’s position as one of the leading producers and exporters of rock and aggregates in Oman. “On top of this expansion, we are reviewing our development plans to ensure we maximise our mineral reserves and ensure our sustainability in the region for many years to come,” Jamie continues. “Our Board of Directors are extremely ambitious and are always on the lookout to grow our business and drive innovation within our operations.” And these investments fall in line with Sohar Stone’s plans for the coming years. “As well as the expansion plans to increase its output capacity, the company is continually looking to grow its client base in Oman and considering other overseas opportunities for export,” Jamie affirms. “We have recently begun talking to clients in Bangladesh and we’re looking to strengthen these new relationships in the future.”
SOHAR STONES Tel: +968 2200 4100 enquiry.ss@badrinvest.com www.soharstonesllc.com
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SOHAR STONES Dhalia By Badr, Building No. 997, PDO Road, Muscat, OMAN Tel: +968 2200 4100 enquiry.ss@badrinvest.com www.soharstonesllc.com
PRODUCED BY EME OUTLOOK MAGAZINE