AquaChemie to build Dhs150m chemical terminal at Jebel Ali Port

Regional chemical distributor, AquaChemie Middle East, is expected to build a chemical terminal facility at Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port.

The facility, expected to cost Dhs150m ($40m), will position itself as a strategic gateway hub to help conduct petrochemical trade across the GCC region and beyond, benefitting the global petrochemicals market valued in at Dhs146.5 trillion ($539.3bn), a statement said.

For the design, engineering and project management of the terminal, AquaChemie Middle East has roped in UK-based engineering, management and development consultancy Mott MacDonald, expected to be commissioned by mid-2021, the statement said.

The new chemical terminal will constitute bulk storage tanks for liquid hydrocarbons (approximately 30,000m3 total capacity) with day tanks, chemical processing units, automated drumming lines, tanker loading-unloading gantry with top loading arms, covered warehousing for storage of NFPA class 1B and C chemicals, separate dry goods storage area, pump house and main hose exchange station, separate road tanker entrance with weigh bridge, loading and unloading ramp for forklift operation, office block with control room, dedicated road tankers and large trailer truck fleet, and a fully-equipped firefighting unit, the statement said.

V. Anandkumar, co-founder and director at AquaChemie Middle East, said: “The project will serve as a catalyst to boost petrochemical trade between manufacturers in the region and end-users anywhere in the globe.”

“The project will also serve as a regional hub for other global trading partners to ship economically, in bulk and distribute in smaller packaging, while AquaChemie Middle East will take stock position based on attractive spot deals to meet spread-out demand of the market. The project will also boost the industry ecosystem of related businesses, such as construction and services during the project phase and packaging material (drums, pallets, etc.) and transportation.”

Subrato Saha, co-founder and director of AquaChemie Middle East, stated: “It (The new chemical terminal) will adhere to a fill locally and ship globally modus operandi by sourcing by-product streams available in the region at attractive terms, collecting them in storage tanks and exporting in bulk, while also allowing cross sale via direct source and supply in bulk from high seas without touching the AquaChemie Middle East facility.”

AquaChemie Middle East will hire approximately 100 employees locally in two years’ time, doubling the number by 2025, Saha confirmed.