Borouge Delivers First Material From Its New XLPE Plant in the UAE

Borouge Group International has delivered the first batch of cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) from its new plant in the United Arab Emirates to customers in the region. The shipment follows successful performance testing and marks the start of commercial operations at the facility, which adds 100,000 tonnes of annual XLPE capacity and roughly doubles Borouge’s previous XLPE output in the Middle East and Asia. The plant is part of the broader Borouge 4 expansion at the Ruwais complex and strengthens the company’s position as the operator of the region’s only XLPE plants of their kind. XLPE is a critical insulation material for medium- and high-voltage underground and subsea power cables that underpin grid expansion, electrification and data-centre growth.

Capacity Doubling and Strategic Fit

The new unit lifts Borouge’s regional XLPE capacity toward 200,000 tonnes per year. Demand for high-voltage cable compounds has been rising with transmission and distribution upgrades, renewable energy connections and the rapid build-out of data centres across Asia and the Middle East. By adding dedicated capacity in Abu Dhabi, Borouge reduces reliance on long-haul imports for regional cable makers and shortens supply chains for projects that require certified, high-purity insulation materials.

Collaboration with Ducab

Borouge worked with Ducab, a major UAE-based cable and energy-solutions manufacturer, to performance-test the first material produced at the new plant. Successful completion of those tests cleared the way for commercial deliveries and for a production ramp aimed at medium- and high-voltage applications. Local qualification with a leading cable producer accelerates market acceptance and supports UAE content in the energy-infrastructure value chain.

Role Within Borouge 4

The XLPE plant is the first Borouge 4 facility to reach commercial operation. Borouge 4, majority-owned by ADNOC and OMV and operated by Borouge Plc under a usage agreement, is designed to add about 1.4 million tonnes of polyolefin capacity and to make Ruwais one of the world’s largest single-site polyolefin complexes. Early start-up of the XLPE line demonstrates progress on the overall project timeline and begins to generate utilisation fees and marketed volumes under the operating framework.

Technology and Applications

Borouge’s XLPE production draws on Borealis’ Borlink technology platform, which is widely used for high-voltage and extra-high-voltage cable compounds, including applications that extend toward HVDC systems. These materials must meet stringent electrical, thermal and purity specifications; consistent quality is essential for long-life underground and subsea cables. Expanding local supply of such grades supports both conventional grid projects and the higher-voltage links required by large renewable and data-centre loads.

Market Implications

For cable manufacturers in the Middle East and Asia, additional regional XLPE capacity improves security of supply and can reduce logistics risk and lead times. For Borouge, the start-up advances its shift toward higher-value energy and infrastructure applications and diversifies the product mix beyond commodity polyethylene and polypropylene. Competitors in the global XLPE space will face a more capacity-rich Middle East supply base as the plant ramps.

Outlook

First commercial deliveries from Borouge’s new 100,000-tonne XLPE plant in the UAE mark a concrete step in the Borouge 4 growth programme and double the company’s regional capacity for a material central to power-cable insulation. As production ramps and further Borouge 4 units come online, the Ruwais complex will deepen its role as a regional source of specialised polyolefins for energy infrastructure. Sustained demand from grid upgrades, renewables and data centres will determine how quickly the new capacity is fully utilised; the successful start-up and Ducab qualification already position Borouge to capture a larger share of that demand from a local manufacturing base.

Sources

• https://rubberworld.com/borogue-brings-online-new-xlpe-plant-in-uae/

• https://www.plasticstoday.com/materials/borouge-delivers-first-materials-from-new-uae-xlpe-plant

• https://www.borouge.com/en/media/Pages/News/Borouge-4-Mega-Project-to-Support-UAE-Energy-Sector.aspx

• https://www.wirecable.in/borouge-eyes-asia-growth-with-xlpe-expansion/

• https://www.polyformnext.de/thermoplastics/start-of-production-in-ruwais-borouge-ships-first-xlpe-from-new-plant.htm