Borouge 4, one of the largest industrial projects in the UAE, over 50% complete

Close to two years since it broke ground, Borouge 4, one of the largest industrial projects in the UAE is over 50% complete. This was recently announced by Borouge, a leading petrochemical company that provides innovative and differentiated polyolefin solutions.

The US$ 6.2bn Polyolefin Expansion Project was launched back in Q1 2022 by chemical specialists, Borealis and The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in Ruwais, United Arab Emirates. The project spans an area of over 3.4 million square metres, the equivalent of about 500 football pitches.

It calls for the installation of over 7,500 kilometres of cables, the pouring of over 340,000 cubic metres of concrete and the installation of 77,500 tonnes of structural steel. Thus far significant construction steps have been made including the installation of the world’s largest and the first-ever UAE-built Borstar® gas phase reactor.

In addition to the world’s largest Borstar® gas phase reactor, Borouge 4 will feature one of the world’s most energy-efficient crackers, the EU4. The cracker is designed to be positioned in the first quartile in line with Solomon Associates’ industry benchmarks.

Furthermore, the cracker features tie-ins to a future carbon capture unit. This feature will eliminate the need for downtime and allow for seamless integration should the carbon capture unit be activated.

Borouge to become world’s largest single-site polyolefin complex

H.E Dr Sultan Al Jaber, the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology witnessed the aforementioned progress when he visited the project site. Al Jaber doubles as ADNOC Managing Director Group CEO, and Chairman of Borouge.

Considering the progress so far, it is safe to say the Borouge 4 project is well on schedule and on track to be completed by the end of 2025. Upon completion, the project will make Borouge the world’s largest single-site polyolefin complex with the capacity to produce a total of 6.4 million tonnes of polyethylene per year.

The project is also set to enable the Ruwais Industrial Complex‘s next phase of growth through the supplying of feedstock to Ta’Ziz. This in effect will enhance the local industrial supply chains further leading to more in-country value opportunities.

Speaking on the project, Hazeem Sultan Al Suwaidi explained that this project is of significant importance not only to Borouge but to the UAE’s industrial sector at large. Hazeem is the Chief Executive Officer of Borouge Plc.

He said, “The project will not only boost our production capacity and mark our facilities at Al Ruwais Industrial City in Al Dhannah as the largest single-site polyolefin complex. It will also enhance our ability to deliver product innovation and value to customers across the high-growth markets we serve.

The economic significance of the Borouge 4

As one of the UAE’s largest industrial projects, Borouge 4 is also delivering significant economic impact according to Hazeem with considerable orders placed with UAE manufacturers and a strong target ICV score.

“As Borouge plays its part in driving ‘Make it in the Emirates’, the Borouge 4 project has emerged as a pivotal catalyst for the UAE’s industrial growth. Additionally, it is supporting the nation’s initiatives towards decarbonisation and energy efficiency,” concluded the Chief Executive Officer of Borouge Plc.