AquaChemie Middle East - a leading chemical sales and services company and part of the UAE-based AquaChemie Group - has broken ground on its strategic, world-class petrochemical terminal in DP World’s flagship Jebel Ali Port of Dubai.
The $40 million project will serve as a vital gateway, facilitating and boosting the growing petrochemical trade between manufacturers and end-users in the Middle East and globally.
The terminal will also address the acute shortage of storage facilities for redistribution and lease for bulk chemicals at Jebel Ali Port.
The state-of-the-art specialized bulk storage terminal will have a total envisaged capacity of around 40,000 CBM (Cubic Meters), out of which 35,000 CBM will be in bulk storage tanks and about 5,000 CBM in ISO tanks and drums.
Scheduled for construction completion by early Q2 2022, the facility will be a turnkey and fully integrated distribution center capable of handling bulk imports and packed chemicals at high volume.
The terminal is 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 to Set Up US$40 Million Chemical Terminal at Jebel Ali Port
AquaChemie Middle East targets revenue of around $400 million from the petrochemical terminal business in the next 7 years.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the new chemical terminal was held on November 23, 2020, at Jebel Ali and was attended by Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO and Managing Director, DP World, UAE Region and CEO of Jafza; Abdulla Bin Damithan, among others.
Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO & Managing Director, DP World, UAE Region and CEO of Jafza said, “The petrochemical sector forms an integral part of DP World, UAE Region’s key industry clusters.
"We are confident that this project will transform the business landscape of the petrochemicals segment that is underpinned by rapidly changing regulations, technology disruptions and evolving customer demands.”
AquaChemie Middle East has engaged Mott MacDonald to undertake the project's concept design, engineering and PMC (Project Management Contract).
The key advantage of the 20,000sqm project is its strategic location - connected by four jetty pipelines - located only 500 meters from Jebel Ali Port Chemical Berth #4.
Cherian George, AquaChemie, Project Manager commented: “Am looking forward to the commissioning of this state-of-the-art facility, with utmost importance to safety and quality, within the strict budget and time schedule."
Speaking on the occasion, Subrato Saha, Co-Founder and Director of AquaChemie Middle East, said: "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."
V. Anandkumar, Partner and Director at AquaChemie Middle East said: "Being a customer-centric company, at present, we serve 300-plus customers in the GCC region. This project will add tremendous value to our Middle East customers, once we can create the much-needed marketing and distribution hub for global manufacturers."
Read More: Jebel Ali Port is Gateway to 65% of Polymer Exports from GCC