Oct 26 2009
With abundant natural resources, the Middle East will play a pivotal role in the future development of the global petrochemicals industry. To build successful platforms for growth, new investments are best targeted towards integration with upstream oil and gas production, and existing oil refining and petrochemical production centres.
Speaking on October 14th at Petchem Arabia 09 in Abu Dhabi, Aslam Moola, Business Development Manager, Shell Chemicals, said that countries across the region are increasingly encouraging a transition of petrochemicals from an export-focused industry to one that extends its product slate into value-added specialty products for domestic manufacturing markets.
By providing materials essential for the development of these other industrial sectors - ranging from automotive, appliances, and construction to metals and consumer products - petrochemicals can serve as an engine for broader economic, industrial and social development across the region, Mr Moola noted.
Looking at existing plants, ongoing projects and potential opportunities for petrochemicals expansion projects across the Middle East, the Shell Chemicals executive underlined the advantages in terms of cost, feedstock flexibility and security, and product slate. He also talked about the value added contribution of both process technology and manufacturing optimisation technology.
Offering examples from Shell’s global manufacturing centres, Mr. Moola showed how integration is delivering what the energy group calls “oil chemicals advantage” in new investments such as Shell Eastern Petrochemicals Complex in Singapore and established plants in Europe and North America. Illustrating the project and production optimisation work of Shell Global Solutions, he also showed how excellence in project implementation, and production and energy management can increase the value and performance of manufacturing plants.
Mr. Moola continued: “The Shell Group has a long history in the Middle East, underlined by the scale of energy and petrochemical assets in which we have invested. From a chemicals perspective, not only is there an abundance of natural resources to support petrochemicals growth, there is also strong government commitment to expanding this sector as a foundation stone for broader economic, industrial and social development.
“We also see opportunities where our technologies can support the economic and industrial goals of MRHs, which include developing downstream and specialty chemicals sectors such as polyurethanes. Shell understands the increasingly important role the Middle East is playing in global petrochemicals and we are certainly keen to extend our partnerships in the region.”