Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) announced a new pipeline project worth USD 250 million to fuel aviation growth at Dubai airports.

ENOC, through its subsidiary Horizon Terminals, announced the launch of Project Falcon, a 58-kilometer jet fuel pipeline that links its storage terminal in Jebel Ali with Dubai International Airport. The pipeline also includes provisions for future needs of Al Maktoum International Airport.

The pipeline will help meet traffic demand at Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport, which is forecast to reach a total of 125 million passengers and more than five million tonnes of air freight in 2020.

The aviation business in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has sustained a compounded annual growth rate of about 11% over the last 15 years. Fuel-sales volume has grown from about 460 million gallons in 2001 and to about 2.2 billion gallons in 2015, reflecting a 480% increase over this period.

The project includes a state-of-the-art oil terminal facilities with a storage capacity of 140,000 cubic metres. The facility also has a 850 cubic metre per hour pumping capacity which will ensure adequate jet fuel supply to the Dubai International Airport.