RIYADH: Saudi Aramco, in collaboration with international partners, will establish two offshore fabrication yards in Ras Al-Khair, according to a statement issued on Monday.
The two partners include the National Petroleum Construction Co. and McDermott International. The move aims to deliver a more than 200 percent increase in Saudi Arabia’s offshore fabrication capacity.
Start-up of the facilities is planned for the third quarter of 2023, with the initial combined production capacity estimated at around 70,000 metric tons.
This will increase the Kingdom’s total offshore fabrication capacity from 30,000 metric tons to 100,000 metric tons annually.
The newly established yards are expected to fabricate and assemble offshore platforms, jackets and structures for subsea pipelines, designed to serve Saudi Arabia, gulf countries and other markets.
The establishments at Ras Al-Khair also aims to support localization of the maritime industry, and supplement the nearby King Salman International Complex for Maritime Industries and Services.
“They are expected to harness the latest technologies, support localization efforts, improve the supply chain and contribute to the development of Saudi talent,” Ahmad Al-Sa’adi, Aramco senior vice president of technical services, said.
“In addition, they aim to contribute to economic diversification in the Kingdom,” he added.
Upon full operation, the yards are expected to create up to 7,000 direct and indirect jobs, with a target Saudization rate of 70 percent.
