Oman Chlorine to set up $70m JV plant in Abu Dhabi

DUBAI (ICIS)–Oman Chlorine is to set up a $70m chlor-alkali plant in Abu Dhabi to cater for the oil and gas sector in the region, a senior company official said on Tuesday.

Union Chlorine, a joint venture between Oman Chlorine and Abu Dhabi-based private firm Horizon Energy, would produce 70 tonnes/day of caustic soda, hydrochloric acid and sodium hypochlorite.

The plant would begin commercial production in the third quarter of 2015.

Walid Azhari, managing director of Oman Chlorine, said the project is the natural second step for the company to expand outside Oman.

“There is a lot of drilling activity going on in the region and the company is also all geared up to meet expected growth in demand with a new plant in Abu Dhabi,” Azhari said.

The company also has a joint venture in Qatar called Gulf Chlorine.

Muscat-listed Oman Chlorine at present caters mainly to its domestic market. It produces 45 tonnes/day of caustic lye (liquid caustic soda), hydrochloric acid, sodium hypochlorite, caustic flakes and calcium chloride.