AquaChemie begins construction on $40m petrochemical terminal at Jebel Ali Port in Dubai

Regional chemical distributor, AquaChemie Middle East, part of the UAE-based AquaChemie Group has begun construction on its new $40m petrochemical terminal in DP World’s Jebel Ali Port in Dubai.

The specialised bulk storage terminal will have a total capacity of around 40,000 cubic metres, out of which 35,000 cubic metres will be in bulk storage tanks and about 5,000 cubic metres in ISO tanks and drums.

Construction on the facility is scheduled to be completed by early Q2 2022, and it will serve as an integrated distribution center capable of handling bulk imports and packed chemicals at high volume.

Read: AquaChemie to build Dhs150m chemical terminal at Jebel Ali Port

It is being designed to store flammable chemicals, up to NFPA Class 1B. Over 100 chemicals of UN Class3 hazardous classification or non-hazardous chemicals can be stored in the facility’s nitrogen blanketed tanks.

AquaChemie Middle East is targeting a revenue of around $400m from the terminal in the next seven years.

It has engaged Mott MacDonald to undertake the project’s concept design, basic engineering, detailed engineering and PMC (Project Management Contract).

The 20,000 square metre project is connected by four jetty pipelines – located 500 meters from Jebel Ali Port Chemical Berth #4.

Subrato Saha, co-founder and director of AquaChemie Middle East, said: “Being associated with the petrochemicals industry for over three decades, I am excited to soon play a direct role in the distribution of additional 100-150 KTA (kilo tonnes per annum) of over 50 petrochemicals globally.”

Sunil Puthuran, director of Mott MacDonald, said that the new chemical terminal will serve as a one-stop solution for sourcing raw materials and process chemicals for several industries including oil and gas downstream, fine chemicals, fertilizer plants, paints and pharma, among others.

According to Grand View Research, the global petrochemicals market size is around $480bn, with an anticipated CAGR of approximately 5 per cent. The Middle East and Africa consumption is only about 15 per cent, although it accounts for the in manufacturing and exports, especially from the GCC region. Total global petrochemicals production is around 2,200 million tons per annum.