Hope Consortium, an Abu Dhabi-led public-private partnership delivering large quantities of COVID-19 vaccines globally, has developed the largest “freezer farm” in the UAE.
With static capacity to hold 11.4 million vaccine doses at ultra-cold temperatures of -80°C, the farm is part of the Hope Consortium’s efforts to boost Abu Dhabi’s vaccine storage capacity in 2021.
Abu Dhabi Ports, a founding member of the Hope Consortium, recently took delivery of 32 additional ultra-cold freezers at its advanced 19,000 sqm cold and ultra-cold storage facility located in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD), bringing the total number of freezers from 21 to 53 units.
The addition boosts the facility’s ultra-cold storage capacity from 4 million to 11.4 million doses – an increase of 185 percent.
The “freezer farm”, which describes a specific type of advanced ultra-cold storage solution within the pharmaceutical industry, complements the facility’s existing static capacity to store over 120 million vaccine vials at temperatures of 2°C to 8°C.
This, along with storage capacity for 11,000 pallets for support materials, including syringes and other medical equipment.
Addition of the new units significantly expands Abu Dhabi Ports’ logistics capabilities, further enabling the Hope Consortium’s supply chain to store and distribute all types of COVID-19 vaccines and other pharmaceutical products across all temperature ranges.
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The freezers are connected to “mUnity,” Maqta Gateway’s digital blockchain-enabled solution, which tracks the journey of vaccines through the Consortium’s supply chain in real-time, ensuring safe and transparent delivery to any location in the world.
Furthermore, the entire storage facility is digitally connected via Maqta Gateway’s power backup systems, which securely transfer data to a master control tower dashboard that monitors all activity located on-site.
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Group CEO, Abu Dhabi Ports, and Chairman of the Executive Committee, Hope Consortium said: “Abu Dhabi stands at the threshold of achieving a truly historic accomplishment by enabling the global immunisation of billions of people through a fully-integrated supply chain solution that melds leading-edge technology with strategic foresight.
“Thanks to our wise leadership’s vision and determination, investment in initiatives such as the Hope Consortium enables our nation to take its place as a leader in helping bring the COVID-19 era to a close and pave the way towards a global recovery.
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“By delivering well-planned logistics solutions hand-in-hand with a diversified vaccine supply chain, Abu Dhabi is ensuring a smooth flow of life-saving vaccines around the world to those who need them most.”
Robert Sutton, Head of Logistics Cluster, Abu Dhabi Ports, said: “Abu Dhabi Ports’ decision to develop the UAE’s largest freezer farm late last summer was a bold move that has proven to be highly perceptive.
“With greater vaccine supplies coming on stream, the Hope Consortium is in a timely position to meet the expected surge in demand by having the largest regional capacity to store and distribute extensive quantities of vaccines across all temperature bands, especially at the ultra-cold temperature of -80°C.
“Thanks to forward planning and wise investment, along with the commitment of our Consortium partners, Abu Dhabi Ports is in prime position to deliver upon the promise of the Consortium in providing the hub as part of the global response to the pandemic.”
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