The MEED List: Abu Dhabi Petrochemicals

24 July 2009

Six leading figures involved in the development of the emirate’s petrochemicals industry.

Mohamed al-Azdi

Position: Chief executive officer (CEO), Abu Dhabi National Chemicals Company (Chemaweyaat)

Biography: Mohamed al-Azdi has been CEO of Chemaweyaat since its inception in 2007. He began his career with state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) in 1981, where he served in sales and marketing roles. Between 1991 and 1996, he served as president of two local trading firms - Star Energy and Transgulf Energy - before returning to Adnoc, where he was charged with developing the emirate’s embryonic petrochemicals industry, working with International Petroleum Investment Company (Ipic) and Abu Dhabi Polymers Company (Borouge). His first role on the Chemaweyaat scheme was as chairman of the development committee. Al-Azdi studied economics and marketing at Indiana University in the US, and completed his postgraduate studies at Oxford University in the UK.

Contact Tel: (+971) 2412 3600

Abdulaziz al-Hajri

Position: CEO, Abu Dhabi Polymers Company (Borouge)

Biography: Abdulaziz al-Hajri is leading Abu Dhabi’s venture into the petrochemicals and polymers market. He was appointed CEO of Borouge in October 2007, taking over from Harri Bucht, who had been in the role since 2002. Prior to joining Borouge, Al-Hajri was assistant general manager (technical) at Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Company (Gasco). Al-Hajri had more than 20 years’ operational experience with Gasco. Under his leadership, Borouge has made significant investments to increase its production capacity. A second facility is due to come on line in 2010, tripling existing polymer production capacity to 2 million tonnes a year (t/y). Plans are also being drawn up for a third-phase expansion, taking total capacity to 4.5 million t/y of polyolefins by 2013. Al-Hajri has a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Texas in the US.

Contact Tel: (+971) 2607 0300

Mohamed al-Qamzi

Position: Senior vice-president, Abu Dhabi Polymers Park

Biography: Mohamed al-Qamzi spent 12 years working for Adnoc in a range of construction engineering management, marketing and sales roles. His work at the state oil firm focused on petrochemicals and gas projects in particular. Al-Qamzi currently holds the position of senior vice-president of Abu Dhabi Polymers Park at state development and investment company Abu Dhabi Basic Industries Corporation (Adbic), and is responsible for overseeing the project’s progress, from construction to investor relations. Abu Dhabi Polymers Park will soon announce the signing of lease agreements with its first tenants, and plans to produce 1.4 million t/y of plastics from 2014. Al-Qamzi holds a BSc degree in construction engineering management from California State University in the US.

Contact Tel: (+971) 2412 3600

Harri Bucht

Position: Vice-president, Borealis Middle East/Asia

Biography: Between 2002 and 2007, Harri Bucht served as CEO of Borouge, taking over from Joost Schreven. Under Bucht’s tenure, the petrochemicals company increased the capacity of its existing Ruwais polyethylene production from 450,000 t/y to 600,000 t/y, and received government approval for the major Borouge 2 expansion, to double the company’s prod-uction. Stepping aside for Mohamed al-Azdi to assume the CEO role in 2007, Bucht took on a new role as vice-president for Austrian petrochemicals company Borealis, in the Middle East and Asia. Bucht also took on an advisory role at Chemaweyaat, lending an inter-national perspective and expertise developed over decades at Borealis, where he was a vice-president of sales and human resources, and at Finland’s Neste Chemicals.

Contact Tel: (+971) 2412 3500

Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed al-Nahyan

Position: Minister of presidential affairs, UAE; chairman, International Petroleum Investment Company (Ipic)

Biography: Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed al-Nahyan is a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family. He rose to international prominence in 2008 by acquiring 16.3 per cent of UK bank Barclays. Sheikh Mansoor is also chairman of Ipic, the key strategic investor behind the development of Abu Dhabi’s petrochemicals sector. Under his direction, the company has bought a 64 per cent stake in Austria’s Borealis, acquired 70 per cent of German industrial services firm Man Ferrostaal, and conducted a $2.3bn takeover of Canadian petrochemicals producer Nova Chemicals. Ipic is also one of the principal shareholders in Chema-weyaat, with a 40 per cent stake, and Sheikh Mansoor is seen as one of the driving forces behind the company.

Contact Tel: (+971) 2622 2221

Sheikh Yousef Omair bin Yousef

Position: CEO, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc)

Biography: Sheikh Yousef Omair bin Yousef is a former Abu Dhabi oil minster. Although not a member of the royal family, he has become a key member of Abu Dhabi ruler Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan’s inner circle of advisers. As CEO of Adnoc and secretary general of Abu Dhabi’s Supreme Petroleum Council, he is seen as one of the leaders in the development of the country’s oil and gas sector. As chairman of Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Company (Takreer) and a director at Ipic, he is also one of the key links between the emirate’s upstream and downstream industries. The development of Takreer’s refining capacity at Ruwais is one of the keys to the future of Chemaweyaat and Borouge, as is the unlocking of new oil and gas reserves in the country, one of Sheikh Yousef’s primary preoccupations.

Contact Tel: (+971) 2602 0000

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