Kuwait’s first carbon dioxide (CO2) plant, a partnership between Equate Petrochemical Company and Gulf Cryo, has been officially inaugurated.

The event was held under the patronage of Kuwait's Commerce and Industry Minister Dr. Yousef Al-Ali.

With a design capacity of 280 metric tonnes per day, the plant involves Equate, Kuwait’s first international joint-venture in this industry, providing raw CO2 resulting from its industrial operations to Gulf Cryo, a leading manufacturer of industrial, medical and specialty gases in the Mena region. In turn, Gulf Cryo enhances the quality of CO2 to be used in various commercial applications by its customers.

Through the recovery and recycling of CO2, the two companies are implementing world-class practices to protect the environment by reducing the carbon footprint and replacing conventional CO2 sources from burning fuels. In addition, the partnership is a prime example for integration between industrial organisations and economic diversification for Kuwait, a statement said.

Al-Ali said at the inauguration: “This sustainable partnership between Equate and Gulf Cryo is a positive step for a partnership in industrial, economic and environmental fields in Kuwait. Without any doubt, continuing this partnership and launching similar initiatives would deliver multi-lateral benefits.”  

Gulf Cryo vice chairman Saad Al-Shuwaib said: “The CO2 plant is a pioneering environmental initiative to preserve and protect Kuwait’s environment. It is a reflection of the commitment by industrial bodies to the environment. This plant is truly a milestone as it is partnership between two private entities, Equate and Gulf Cryo that resulted in establishing the plant within record time while maintaining global best practices through utilising the latest technology to manufacture high quality products.

"This has contributed to Gulf Cryo’s products being certified as food-grade and we have become a pioneer in supplying CO2 to various industrial bodies. We hope such partnerships by the private sector would continue in collaboration with government organisations to launch other partnership benefitting the society and nation," he said.
 
Equate president and CEO Mohammad Husain said: “Our partnership with Gulf Cryo is about sustainability-based environmental excellence to protect the environment by reducing the carbon footprint and replacing conventional CO2 sources. It is not only about having the first plant, it is also relevant to building on this development to secure additional progress and growth."

Gulf Cryo is a closed shareholding company operating in the industrial gas field in the Middle East, founded as the Kuwait Oxygen Company in 1953. Today Gulf Cryo comprises over 30 production and distribution sites operational in 12 countries. - TradeArabia News Service