The UAE's Enoc Group signed an agreement with a unit of Singapore-based Rotary Engineering to build 12 new storage tanks as part of a project to increase the capacity of its Jebel Ali refinery.

The $1 billion refinery expansion project will play a key role in meeting the UAE’s growing domestic
demand for energy, as well as in expanding its range of oil products for export.

The contract will be carried out by Rotary Engineering Fujairah FZE. The Rotary group is a regional oil and gas engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) and maintenance services value chain provider.

In addition to the higher technical complexity involved in the construction of refinery tankage, excellent project expertise is required to avoid disrupting ongoing operations, Rotary said in a statement.

The company, meanwhile, has secured another EPC of tank storage project in Thailand. Both projects are worth more than $120 million for the company.

Saif Humaid Al Falasi, group CEO of Enoc, said: “The UAE's energy demand is growing at about 9 per cent a year while Dubai’s population alone is expected to reach 3.3 million by 2021 from the current 2.5 million and then peak to 5.2 million by 2030. This represents a 24 per cent growth by 2021 which in turn means that Dubai’s energy requirements will follow pace. As part of Enoc’s commitment towards the UAE and Dubai’s energy needs, we will continue to invest
in key infrastructure projects to meet this constant growth.

“Our $1 billion expansion project at the Jebel Ali refinery is a key part of the UAE’s downstream strategy to be self-sufficient in domestic fuels, as well as expanding the slate of products on offer for export. The production capacity of our
Jebel Ali refinery is 140,000 barrels per day helping to meet the requirements of local, regional and international markets. With expansion, we hope to achieve an increased capacity of 210,000 barrels per day. This will help us address the needs
of the market and the wider industry, which has witnessed considerable changes in recent times,” said Al Falasi.

Meanwhile, the Thailand project is among Rotary’s several projects in Thailand’s thriving oil and gas hubs. It has a fabrication workshop in Map Tha Put, Rayong province that is well-known for its capabilities in prefabrication and preassembly of topsides, tankage, pressure vessels, heat exchangers and other structures supporting the operations of oil and gas companies in the region.

Rotary has established a strong brand name in both the Middle East and Thailand with a track record of delivering high quality projects on-time, on-budget and with safety.

The UAE project is its second key project in Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone. Roger Chia Kim Piow, chairman and managing director of Rotary, said: “The contract wins reflect customers’ confidence in our capabilities and track record. We will continue to position Rotary for resilient growth amidst challenging market conditions.”  - TradeArabia News Service