By Malini Hariharan (Malini is now joint blogger for Asian Chemical Connections)
Sumitomo Chemical and Saudi Aramco appear to be in a generous mood. After successfully launching the first phase of their joint venture and starting work on the second phase the two are willing to welcome others to the Rabigh party.
Pic source: Saudi Aramco
Ziad Al-Labban, president and ceo of the joint venture Petro Rabigh, is reported to have said that discussions are underway with companies, including Japanese firms, to invest in production synthetic fibre and other products at Rabigh. He expects a total of 50 companies, including some from Japan, to eventually set up operations at the site.
The product slate for PetroRabigh’s second phase, due to be completed in 2013-14 includes aromatics, synthetic rubber, nylon 6 and speciality chemicals. What more can be produced and what makes Rabigh so attractive?
There is of course the feedstock that will be readily available from the PetroRabigh complex and the benefits of shared world class infrastructure. But local markets are small with not very exciting growth prospects, especially for products like synthetic fibres. I certainly can’t see a big textile industry developing in Saudi Arabia or the GCC.
I have often heard that the attractiveness of the Middle East fades as you move down the product chain. The closer you are to the cracker the more profitable it is as you then get full advantage of cheap feedstocks.
But Saudi Arabia’s plans for a diversified chemical industry are slowly but steadily progressing. And Abu Dhabi is also working on a similar model. What incentives are being offered to make these countries an oasis for downstream chemical production?