Meed | Borouge awards output capacity expansion contracts

Borouge awards output capacity expansion contracts

30 April 2025

Abu Dhabi petrochemicals producer Borouge has awarded contracts for projects that will increase its overall production capacity to 6.6 million tonnes a year (t/y) by 2028.

Germany-headquartered Linde Engineering won a contract for front-end engineering and design (feed) services to upgrade Borouge’s second ethane cracker unit (EU2), adding 230,000 t/y of capacity, which is a 15% increase for the EU2 cracker.

Adnoc Gas and Adnoc Refining, subsidiaries of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc Group), will supply ethane feedstock for the EU2 upgrade project, with completion scheduled for 2028-end.

Separately, Borouge has undertaken a project to expand its PE4 and PE5 polyethylene production units, which will increase their nameplate capacity from 540,000 t/y to 700,000 t/y each.

Abu Dhabi’s Target Engineering Construction Company has won the engineering, procurement and construction contract for this project, which is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027.

Borouge expects the two output capacity expansion projects to contribute between $165m and $200m in annual earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda).

ALSO READ: Borouge awards hydrogen extraction project contract

Borouge entered operations in 2001, with a production capacity of 450,000 t/y of polyethylene. The Borouge 2 and Borouge 3 expansion projects took the capacity to 2 million t/y and 4.5 million t/y of polyethylene and polypropylene in 2010 and 2014, respectively.

When the under-construction Borouge 4 complex enters operations, Borouge’s overall production capacity will increase significantly from 5 million t/y to 6.4 million t/y, making it the world’s largest single-site polyolefins facility.

The upcoming Borouge 4 polyolefins complex will feature two polyethylene plants – each with a capacity of 700,000 t/y – using the third generation of Borealis Borstar technology. These plants will be supplied by an ethane cracker with a capacity of more than 1.5 million t/y of ethylene, as well as associated ethylene derivatives.

Following the signing of a final investment decision agreement worth $6.2bn by Adnoc and Borealis in November 2021, Borouge awarded the main EPC contracts for the Borouge 4 project in December of that year.

The EPC packages, the winning contractors, their estimated contract values and a brief scope of work are as follows:

Early works (package one) – Al-Asab General Transport & Contracting (UAE) – site preparation and early civil works
Ethane cracker (package two) – Technip Energies (France)/Target Engineering (UAE) – $1.58bn – building an ethane cracker with a manufacturing capacity of 1.5 million t/y of ethylene
Polymers production (package three) – Tecnimont (Italy) – $1.35bn – building two new polyethylene manufacturing plants and a unit to produce 1-hexene, a component in the production of high-performance polyethylene
Utilities and offsites (package four) – Tecnimont (Italy) – $1.5bn – constructing non-process buildings, roads, infrastructure, internal and external interfaces, tankage systems, flaring systems and utilities, as well as integration of Borouge 4 with the existing facilities
Second cross-linkable-polyethylene (XLPE) plant (package five) – Tecnimont (Italy) – $350m – building an XLPE plant with a capacity of 100,000 t/y.

Italian contractor Maire Tecnimont executed the front-end engineering and design works for Borouge 4.

Borouge awarded France-based Axens a contract to provide licensed technologies in January 2020. This covered supplying a methyl tertiary butyl ether unit coupled with a 1-butene production unit and 1-hexene unit for the project.

The new Borouge 4 facility will cover an area equivalent to almost 500 football pitches, or more than three times the size of Al-Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi. It will produce enough polyolefins annually to make pipes to supply water to 35 million households.

Borouge Group International

Borouge is the petrochemicals-producing joint venture of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) and Austrian energy company Borealis. Adnoc owns the majority 56% stake in Borouge, with Borealis holding a 34% stake. The remaining 10% of shares in Borouge trade on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange following an initial public offering in June 2022, from which Adnoc Group earned proceeds of $2bn.

In March, Adnoc and Austrian energy company OMV entered into a binding framework agreement to combine their shareholdings in Borouge and Borealis and take control of a greater share of the global chemicals market.

Adnoc has also entered into a share purchase agreement with Canada-based Nova Chemicals Holdings, an indirectly wholly-owned company of Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth institution Mubadala Investment Company, for 100% of Nova Chemicals Corporation (Nova).

Adnoc and OMV have also agreed that upon completion of the planned merger of Borouge and Borealis, the new entity – which will be known as Borouge Group International – will acquire Nova for $13.4bn including debt, further expanding its footprint in North America.

Borouge Group International is intended to be headquartered and domiciled in Austria, with regional headquarters in the UAE. In addition, Borouge Group International will hold corporate hubs in Canada’s Calgary, Pittsburgh in the US and Singapore.

The combination of Borouge and Borealis, and the acquisition of Nova, are expected to complete in the first quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions, Adnoc said.

The acquisition, together with the contribution of the upcoming Borouge 4 petrochemicals project in Abu Dhabi, will create a major polyolefins producer valued at over $60bn. It will be the world’s fourth-largest by nameplate production, with a potential of 13.6 million metric t/y across 62 plants globally.

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13786125/main.jpg

Indrajit Sen

Exclusive from Meed

Saudi Arabia raises electricity tariffs
26 October 2026
Dubai Municipality confirms AED3bn Tasreef drainage awards
26 October 2026
Nakheel awards $259m Dubai Islands buildings contract
26 October 2026
Morocco plans second high-speed rail phase to Agadir
26 October 2026
Riyadh tenders King Salman Stadium works
26 October 2026

Saudi Arabia raises electricity tariffs
26 October 2026

Saudi Energy, formerly Saudi Electricity Company, has announced revised electricity tariffs, which will take effect on 1 January 2027.

The revised tariff schedule, published on the company’s official website, covers residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, charitable and government customers.

The largest percentage increase in consumption rates is 16.7%, for residential customers using up to 6,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) a month. Residential customers will pay 21 halalas/kWh for monthly consumption of up to 6,000kWh, up from 18 halalas. For consumption above 6,000kWh, the rate will rise from 30 to 33 halalas/kWh, a 10% increase.

The industrial tariff will increase by 15%, from 20 to 23 halalas/kWh. Commercial customers, private healthcare facilities and private educational facilities will pay 25 halalas/kWh, up from 22 halalas, for consumption up to 6,000kWh a month, and 35 halalas/kWh above that level, up from 32 halalas.

Tariffs for charities and government customers will also increase. In addition to consumption-based charges, customers will pay a fixed monthly fee based on the capacity of their electricity meter. This replaces the previous separate charge for meter reading, maintenance and billing, with VAT applied to the revised tariffs.

Electricity investment

The new tariffs coincide with changes to water consumption tariffs announced by the National Water Company, also effective from 1 January 2027.

King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud directed support measures following a proposal presented by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.

This includes raising the minimum wage required for Saudi nationals to count as full employees towards private sector localisation quotas under the Nitaqat programme.

The tariff changes come as Saudi Arabia plans substantial investment in its electricity infrastructure. In September 2025, Saudi Energy announced plans to invest SR220bn ($58.7bn) in power infrastructure projects between 2025 and 2030.

A June 2025 report by Fitch Ratings forecast negative free cash flow of about SR16bn a year over the period and rising leverage, reflecting the financial demands of the programme.

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20924301/main.jpg

Mark Dowdall
Dubai Municipality confirms AED3bn Tasreef drainage awards
26 October 2026

Dubai Municipality has confirmed it has awarded four contracts worth AED3bn ($817m) to expand the emirate’s stormwater drainage network by about 100 square kilometres under phase three of the Tasreef programme.

The projects will cover Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim, Al-Quoz, Al-Barsha, Al-Wasl and Al-Marmoom. The works include constructing and extending main stormwater drainage lines with diameters of up to three metres.

The four packages are part of Dubai’s AED30bn Tasreef programme, which aims to increase the emirate’s stormwater drainage capacity by 700% and reduce costs associated with pumping stations, network operations and maintenance by 20%.

The contracts have been awarded to China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) and three local firms: Arifco Group, Nael Construction & Contracting (NCC) and Detech Contracting. Dubai Municipality did not state which projects the awards relate to.

According to sources, the contract awards include packages TF-15-C1, TF-15-C2 and TF-13-C1.

The first package, TF-15-C1, involves the construction of 21 kilometres of main and secondary drainage lines along Al-Wasl Road and in surrounding areas. It will cover Za’abeel 2, Al-Wasl, Jumeirah 1 and 2, Al-Bada’a, Al-Satwa and Dubai World Trade Centre. The estimated $100m contract was awarded to Detech in July, as exclusively reported by MEED.

The second package, TF-15-C2, covers the corridor between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al-Khail Road. It includes about 14km of main drainage lines serving Al-Quoz Industrial Areas 1, 3 and 4, and Al-Barsha 1. In July, MEED reported that CSCEC had won the engineering, procurement and construction contract for this project.

The third package, TF-13-C1, covers Al-Marmoom, where 23km of drainage infrastructure will be developed. According to a source, Arifco has been awarded this contract.

The final package covers Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim, where about 42km of main drainage lines will serve Umm Suqeim 1, 2 and 3; Umm Al-Sheif; Jumeirah 3; Al-Safa 1 and 2; and Al-Manara.

In May, MEED reported that NCC had been awarded a contract to build a sewage and stormwater drainage system, DS-204. However, it is unconfirmed whether this relates to the same project.

Earlier, in February, the municipality confirmed it had awarded contracts for five new projects under phase two of the programme to expand and strengthen Dubai’s stormwater drainage network.

These included two contracts awarded to Detech and one to CSCEC for stormwater drainage infrastructure. In addition, two consultancy contracts were awarded for the study and design of drainage systems in selected areas across the emirate.

Cumulatively valued at AED2.5bn, the new projects will serve 30 vital areas, spanning approximately 430 million square metres and supporting an estimated population of three million residents by 2040.

Previously, in April 2025, an earlier package of awards was announced under phase one of the Tasreef programme. The overall masterplan aims to expand Dubai’s rainwater drainage capacity by 700% by 2033.

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20923924/main4827.jpg

Mark Dowdall
Nakheel awards $259m Dubai Islands buildings contract
26 October 2026

Dubai-based master developer Nakheel, part of Dubai Holding Real Estate, has awarded local firm Parkway International Contracting a construction contract valued at about AED950m ($259m) for phases two and four of Bay Grove Residences on Dubai Islands.

The package covers 617 residential units across eight buildings, ranging from one to four bedrooms, together with basement structures, infrastructure and community amenities including swimming pools, sports courts and fitness centres.

Phase two comprises 360 homes across four buildings, with main construction scheduled for completion in late 2028.

Phase four includes 257 homes across four buildings, with completion targeted for the second quarter of 2029.

The award follows an earlier contract valued at about AED800m ($218m) awarded to local contractor Metac General Contracting Company for phases one and three, covering 537 homes across seven buildings.

Together, the two contracts total more than AED1.75bn ($476m) and account for all 1,154 planned homes across the 15 buildings of Bay Grove Residences.

Project activity on Dubai Islands has gathered pace in recent months. Earlier this month, Nakheel awarded local firm Mar Marine & Building Contracting a contract for marine and coastal works on Island B. The scope includes constructing breakwaters, removing existing rock revetments and creating a new 320-metre beach near the Bay Villas development, as well as remedial and refurbishment works along approximately 3 kilometres of the island’s western shoreline.

In August 2025, Nakheel awarded Fibrex Contracting a AED2.6bn ($708m) construction contract for the Bay Villas residential project. That followed a AED527m ($143m) contract awarded to Al-Nasr Contracting Company in April 2026 for primary infrastructure and utilities on Island B.

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20923389/main.jpg

Yasir Iqbal
Morocco plans second high-speed rail phase to Agadir
26 October 2026

Morocco has outlined a second rail investment cycle for 2030-35, which includes beginning construction of a high-speed rail extension from Marrakech to Agadir and connecting Essaouira to the national rail network.

The pipeline forms part of the government’s 2026-31 programme, presented to parliament last week.

The Marrakech-Agadir link is estimated to cost close to MD55bn ($5.5bn) and will cover a 240-kilometre (km) route through the High Atlas Mountains via Chichaoua. Civil engineering structures, including tunnels and viaducts, are expected to account for nearly 70% of the alignment.

In September, the government issued a decree declaring the Marrakech-Agadir and Chichaoua-Essaouira rail corridors to be of public utility, paving the way for land acquisition and expropriation procedures.

Under the long-term masterplan Plan Rail Maroc 2040, Essaouira is expected to connect to the network via a separate line branching off at Chichaoua, designed for operating speeds of up to 200km an hour. The mainline to Agadir is designed for speeds of up to 320km/h.

The 2030-35 cycle also includes rehabilitating the Casablanca-Khouribga-Oued Zem line; constructing a new line between Oued Zem and Beni Mellal via Bejaad, with a branch to Fquih Ben Salah; doubling and upgrading the 140km Benguerir-Safi line; expanding capacity on the Fez-Oujda corridor; and building new-generation passenger stations.

The plans follow Morocco’s ongoing MD134bn ($13.4bn) 2024-30 rail investment programme, which focuses on completing the Kenitra-Marrakech high-speed line ahead of the 2030 Fifa World Cup.

The programme also includes developing regional express network services across five regions, electrifying the Fez-Oujda line and completing a freight rail link to the Nador West Med port.

Work on the Kenitra-Marrakech line had reached about 30% by May 2026, with commercial services targeted to begin in September 2029.

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20920349/main.jpg

Yasir Iqbal

Riyadh tenders King Salman Stadium works

26 October 2026

Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access

Saudi Arabia’s Sports Ministry has tendered a contract covering early works at King Salman International Stadium in Riyadh.

The scope includes enabling works, site preparation and initial construction activities.

The tender was issued on 11 October, with a submission deadline of 19 November.

The stadium will cover about 660,000 square metres (sq m) and seat 92,000. Facilities will include a 150-seat royal suite, 120 hospitality suites, 300 VIP seats and 2,200 dignitary seats.

The wider development will include sports facilities covering more than 360,000 sq m, including two training fields and fan zones; a closed sports hall; an Olympic-sized swimming pool; an athletics track; and outdoor courts for volleyball, basketball and padel.

The stadium is set to host the final of the 2034 Fifa World Cup and will serve as the Saudi national football team’s main base.

US-based architectural firm Populous is the lead architect for the stadium.

Construction of the stadium is expected to be completed by 2029.

The stadium will be located next to King Abdulaziz Park.

Firms submitted prequalification statements for the main design-and-build contract in February.

Saudi stadium plans

In August 2024, MEED reported that Saudi Arabia planned to build 11 new stadiums and refurbish four facilities for the 2034 Fifa World Cup.

Eight stadiums will be located in Riyadh, four in Jeddah and one each in Al-Khobar, Abha and Neom.

A further 10 cities will host training bases: Al-Baha, Jazan, Taif, Medina, Alula, Umluj, Tabuk, Hail, Al-Ahsa and Buraidah.

There are expected to be 134 training sites in the kingdom, including 61 existing facilities and 73 new venues.

Saudi Arabia was officially selected to host the 2034 Fifa World Cup during an online convention of Fifa member associations at the Fifa Congress on 11 December 2024.

READ THE OCTOBER 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF