Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Saudi Arabia

Key expansion under way

SVCP pipes .. in demand.

Increasing demand for clay pipes has prompted Saudi Vitrified Clay Pipe Company (SVCP) to undertake a major expansion of its production capacity.

"We currently have a production capacity of 60,000 tonnes per annum, and this will increase to 80,000 tonnes by the end of April and reach 100,000 tonnes by end of 2002," says sales manager Mahmoud Abu Jebara. "our turnover this year has been 25 per cent higher than last year due to a tremendous increase in local demand. We are currently working at full capacity and we expect to utilise the new expansion in full."

SVCP's factory, located in Riyadh's new industrial area, manufactures a range of vitrified clay pipes and fittings in sizes ranging from DN 100 to 1200, using raw materials sourced locally from quarries in Al Kharj area and Durma. Vitrified clay jacking pipes are also manufactured for microtunnelling purposes.

Products are manufactured to the Saudi Arabian Standards Organisation (Saso) standard 235/236 -1995 which fully comply to EN 295, while SVCP has been certified to ISO 9002:1994/EN ISO 9002:1994 since 1994.

Sixty per cent of the manufacturer's output is sold to the local market, with the rest exported to other GCC states, Yemen, the Far East and Europe.

Elaborating on the need to boost its capacity, Abu Jebara says: "As a strategic policy, we have to maintain around 40 per cent of our total capacity for exports, whatever the level of local market demand. Hence, we are expanding capacity to enable us maintain our export market share. We shall consider continuous expansion to new export markets all over the world."

"Our products are mostly used in drainage and sewerage projects which range in cost from several hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars, with durations lasting up to four years. At present, we are supplying major projects in Makkah and Riyadh which together are using approximately 4,000 km of pipes in various sizes.

The projects in Makkah are:

  • The main line and house connections in central Makkah;

  • A sewer network in Ibrahim Al Khalil Street;

  • A sewer network at Al Noor mountain and Al Ghazala; and

  • Sewer networks in Al Shara'ea area, stages I, II, III and IV.

    The projects in Riyadh are:

  • Al Naseem Al Rayyan sewer network;

  • Al Nakheel - Morooj sewer network;

  • The sewer main line east of Riyadh phase 2 and 3;

  • Al Rawdah - Al Rabwah sewer network;

  • Al Dar Bayda and Al Shifa and Al Badir and Al Aziziah sewer networks;

  • Al Deremiah and Shobra and Zahra sewer networks;

  • Orajah and Badiah sewer network;

  • Sewer network in Al Badir, Al Khalidyah and Al Aziziah zones;

  • Sewer network in Al Nah'dah, Al Andalus, King Faisal and Qudas zones;

  • Sewer network in Al Salam, Al Rawabi, Ratab, Al Safa and King Abdullah zones;

  • Sewer network in Al Rafia'ah, Al Orijah and Al Tawyik zones;

  • Sewer network in Al Swayidy and Al Orijah zones; and

  • Sewer network in Al Ezdihar, Al Mugharaza, Al Ta'awon, Al Nazeha and Al Waha zones.

    Commenting on local business prospects, Abu Jebara says: "The Saudi market is developing and improving after a long quiet period and we hope the market will remain busy for a considerable period of time.

    ''Although there is competition from other pipes materials, vitrified clay is still the most favourable material because of its high resistance and long lifespan."

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