Pultron to provide GFRP rebar to Aramco
01 January 2020
Saudi Aramco has signed an agreement with New Zealand-based Pultron Composites, alongside its subsidiary Mateenbar in Dubai, a manufacturer of industry-approved glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebar for future use of the product in its projects.
Mateenbar is described as being corrosion-free and lightweight, providing a longer lifespan and minimal lifecycle costs compared to steel reinforcement. It has made a name for itself in the Middle East as an alternative to steel in aggressive environments.
The SR93.75 million ($25 million) agreement was signed at the Future Investment Initiative, held in Riyadh.
According to Saudi Aramco’s internal analysis, GFRP rebar is qualified to replace 10 per cent of Saudi Aramco’s total steel demand. It has recently mandated GFRP rebar to be included in its engineering standards for reinforced concrete structures in corrosion-risk areas.
With Saudi Aramco’s non-metallic initiative, the MoU with Pultron aligns with its proactive approach to managing corrosion.
Mateenbar is the principal supplier of GFRP rebar in the 21-km-long Jizan flood mitigation channel in Saudi Arabia. This channel is the only defence for the 400,000-barrel-per-day refinery built in an area of high flood risk between mountains and the coast.
Once completed, it will be the largest project in the world to be fully-reinforced using GFRP rebar. Mateenbar has also been used as reinforcement for the Grand Paris Metro tunnel, the iconic Burj Al Arab, the F1 race track in Abu Dhabi and over 300 other high profile projects worldwide.
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