Gulf Construction Online - New technology to the fore

The Big 5 - Saudi Arabia

The Natpet Petrochemical Complex in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia.

New technology to the fore

01 February 2012

BONAR Natpet Geosynthetics will put on display at The Big 5 Saudi a full range of Bontec woven and nonwoven geotextiles and technical fabrics, which will soon be produced locally in Saudi Arabia.

Bonar Natpet Geosynthetics, located in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, is a joint venture between Bonar Technical Fabrics, a subsidiary of London-based Low & Bonar, and Jeddah-based National Petrochemical Industrial Company (Natpet).
The products currently available in the region are produced at Bonar’s production plants in Belgium. “We will soon start manufacturing the range locally once our new joint venture production plant in Yanbu (Saudi Arabia) is ready by the last quarter of 2012,” says Mohammad Barad’i, sales and marketing manager, Bonar Natpet Geosynthetics, adding that the manufacturing facility in the kingdom, is being set up to meet the rising demand for its products.

Headquartered in Jeddah, Bonar Natpet has a sales office in Dubai and is supported by Bonar TF in Belgium.

The new company is the first downstream venture for Natpet and brings new technology to Saudi Arabia as well as providing the local and surrounding markets with quick access to established quality products.

Bonar TF is internationally known for its quality, service and large but flexible geotextile production capacity. Under the brand name Bontec, Bonar TF’s woven and nonwoven fabrics are recognised as some of the best-performing geotextile products used in the building and construction sectors.

“The technical fabrics are produced using needle-punching technology and heat bonding. The geotextile is widely used in various applications for infrastructure and construction industries,” says Barad’i.

Manifa port ... a Bonar Natpet Geosynthetics project.

Commenting on the company’s participation at The Big 5 Saudi, he says: “We wanted to be at this show as a lot of infrastructure projects are coming up in Saudi Arabia and other GCC that need our products.”

At the Saudi event, the company will be promoting its full Bontec product range. “Our products are already well known in the GCC market and are being used widely in infrastructure works (roads, railways, runways, ports, sewage and drainage, waterfront developments, waterproofing, dams and embankments). We want to focus more on working closely with local consultants to help improve on designs in upcoming projects,” he says.

Barad’i is pleased with the company’s performance last year. “Last year was a great one for us with improved volumes and bigger market share,” he adds.

A major project the company has been associated with is the Manifa Oilfield and Causeway Islands project in Saudi Arabia during 2008-2009. Jan De Nul was the main contractor on the project.

“The most prominent feature of the new port in Manifa, which has become very important due to increased oil production, is the 41-km-long causeway leading out to the open sea providing vehicle and service access to 25 drilling/production islands and two water injection islands. A big quantity of Bontec geotextile was successfully supplied and installed in the project,” he concludes.

Bonar Natpet will be present at Stand 1D68 Hall 1 at The Big 5 Saudi 2012.