Work apace on Capital's chemical unit

The upcoming Dh60 million ($16.5 million) chlor-alkali plant in Abu Dhabi's Industrial City is moving steadily ahead with international firms awarded different contracts, a top company official said.

The UK's W.S. Atkins has been appointed by Safewater Chemicals LLC to undertake the process and detailed engineering.

Meanwhile, Ionics Inc, a NYSE listed company, has bagged a Dh30.2 million contract to supply the membrane cell electrolyser units, and French company GEA Kestner has been awarded a Dh2 million contract for design, supply and commissioning of the caustic soda evaporator.

The plant is currently under construction and will commence commercial production during the second half of 2003.

Al Jaber Group, one of the largest local contracting and manufacturing enterprises, has developed the company and the chlor-alkali plant.

"Atkins was appointed for their local representation and ability to interface with the global organisation to provide the needed expertise to carry out the scope of work," said Obeid Al Jaber, chairman of the Al Jaber Group which has revenues of $500 million.

"Ionics has been awarded the design, supply and commissioning of the electrolytic membrane cell modules and hydrochloric acid absorbers," he said, adding that Ionics will outsource the supply of the hydrochloric acid absorbers to SGL Acotec GmbH.

The construction contractor for the procurement, management, erection and cold commissioning of the chlor-alkali plant is Al Jaber LTA Engineering & Contracting (ALEC), a joint venture between Al Jaber Group and South Africa's Grinaker-LTA.

Safewater's key markets will be the oil and gas sector, the water generation/transmission sector and wastewater sector, certain industrial applications and the commercial segment.

At present, these markets are served by imported products, which are of a substandard purity when compared to Safewater's products, he said, adding that "Safewater will be a competitive and reliable UAE-based supplier for the traders, wholesalers and end-users".

Moreover, the company will provide a local, secure source of chemicals of strategic importance to two essential economic sectors, hydrocarbons and water. The plant's technology is an environment friendly membrane cell based electrolytic process, avoiding the use of toxic chemicals such as mercury and asbestos.

The plant will produce three products - sodium hypochlorite, hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide.