The facility is built on a 25,804 sqm site. (image source: AquaChemie)
AquaChemie, a prominent player in the regional chemicals industry, has unveiled its new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, AquaChemie Global Chemicals (ACGC), at the Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi (KEZAD).
The facility is built on a 25,804 sqm site with an initial investment of US$25mn.
At the opening ceremony of the factory, V Anandkumar, the founder and managing director of AquaChemie, said, "We've been moving towards being local and how to bring in multinational product lines, specialty chemicals, and bring it to this country and produce it here, adding value to localisation...we started our journey in building this facility in 2022, and we already have close to around US$50mn to US$60mn worth of chemicals to be supplied to ADNOC and other companies here. We found global partners who are willing to come and partner with us and produce those products here."
"We are also looking for some more acquisition in the near future within UAE," he added.
By localising production, the facility will reduce the region’s dependence on imported specialty chemicals, which have historically been costly and time-consuming to procure. The company said it will support the UAE's ‘Make it in the Emirates’ initiative.
Circular economy
AquaChemie’s new plant is strategically positioned to meet the growing demand for oil and gas upstream chemicals, particularly for ADNOC and other major regional players. It will also cater to industries such as paints, coatings, and construction, providing high-quality, locally produced chemicals that reduce costs and lead times.
Speaking to Technical Review Middle East about incorporating renewables, Anandkumar said, "We're already planning to put solar panels on the top of this facility. We are also taking a step towards a green chemistry. Today, [the industry] is using very unconventional chemistries so we are also working towards how to substitute them without compromising on the performance. With the daily operations also, we are trying to reduce the carbon footprint as much as possible."
The facility will also aid in the construction industry. "A lot of cement additives go into buildings. There are a lot of chemicals added into those readymixes. Readymix has a lot of products, so we provide those products to the companies which are making those readymixes."
There are at least 12 emergency safety showers installed at the factory, according to Anandkumar. Shobitha Anand, executive director of AquaChemie Global Chemicals, said, "we want to be as compliant as possible
with the whole facility."
AquaChemie’s new manufacturing facility leverages significant advantages, including reduced utility costs, tax exemptions, duty benefits, and a seamless export network across the GCC. These cost savings are directly passed on to customers, enhancing operational efficiency and affordability.
The plant is equipped with advanced features, such as reactors for processing both liquid and solid chemicals, precision blending and mixing technologies, dedicated R&D infrastructure for product innovation and quality control, and a storage capacity of 7,200 metric tons, supported by four liquid storage tanks.
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