Saudi Aramco has inaugurated the first fiberglass rebar plant in the kingdom, which is expected to localise the rebar industry and reduce steel rebar consumption, according to a statement on Monday. 

The IKK Mateenbar is a 10,000-square-metre facility that will manufacture and supply glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebar products in Saudi Arabia, as well as the rest of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. 

Saudi Aramco has approved the use of IKK Mateenbar's GFRP rebar technology in their infrastructure projects as a sustainable new corrosion-free material that could support the kingdom in achieving its carbon neutrality targets.

It has been established following a deal signed in 2019 by New Zealand’s Pultron Composites and its partner Isam Khairy Kabbani Group (IKK), with the oil giant.  

Saudi Vision 2030 

According to the statement, the launch of the facility comes as part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to attract and localise the rebar industry. It is also in line with the efforts to achieve the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. 

Saudi Aramco’s senior vice president of technical services, Ahmad Al-Sa’adi, said the GFRP rebar technology can be a game-changer for the building and construction sector.  

“We are introducing a revolutionary new technology that will start to replace the iconic construction material that has been around for over a century now,” added IKK Group chairman Hassan Al-Kabbani. 

GFRP is an alternative to the traditional steel rebar for reinforcing concrete. 

According to an internal analysis by Saudi Aramco, fiberglass rebar could replace 10 percent of its steel consumption. The company has approved the use of IKK Mateenbar’s GFRP rebar technology in its infrastructure projects, a move that could help meet Saudi Arabia’s carbon neutrality targets. 

(Writing by Cleofe Maceda; editing by Daniel Luiz)  

Cleofe.maceda@refinitiv.com

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