Pultron Composites, based in New Zealand alongside its subsidiary company, Mateenbar in Dubai announced a joint Memorandum of Understanding with Saudi Aramco. Pultron has a long-standing reputation of success in innovation and industry-firsts using pultrusion technology. Mateenbar is one of their great success stories, an industry-approved glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebar. Mateenbar is corrosion-free and lightweight. It provides a longer lifespan and minimal life cycle costs compared to steel reinforcement. Pultron CEO Jasper Holdsworth was in attendance at the Future Investment Initiative held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As part of the Future Investment Initiative, a memorandum of understanding in the field of energy was signed between Aramco and Pultron with a value of SR93.75 million ($US25m). According to Saudi Aramco's internal analysis, GFRP rebar is qualified to replace 10% of Saudi Aramco's total steel demand. They have recently mandated GFRP rebar to be included in its engineering standards for reinforced concrete structures in corrosion-risk areas. "The world's largest company, Saudi Aramco, is endorsing our Mateenbar technology and mandating the use of GFRP rebar in slab-on-grade, seawalls, sidewalks, drainage channels and other coastal structures," said Jasper Holdsworth. With Saudi Aramco's non-metallic initiative, the MoU with Pultron aligns with their proactive approach to managing corrosion in Saudi Arabia and throughout the Middle East. Mateenbar has made a name for itself in the Middle East as an alternative to steel in aggressive environments. Nick Crofts, CEO of Mateenbar highlighted the importance of the MoU. "The agreement includes co-operation in the development of the technology. Saudi Aramco and Mateenbar are now partnering with academic and engineering companies to increase application areas and develop new products." Mateenbar is the principal supplier of GFRP rebar in the 21km-long Jizan Flood Mitigation Channel in Saudi Arabia. This channel is the only defense 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. — SG
