Aramco, a Saudi oil giant has signed a five-year co-operation framework agreement (CFA) with the China National Building Material Group, a major producer of comprehensive building materials, for new opportunities in advanced materials and industrial development.
The duo has identified several areas for potential partnership, including establishing manufacturing facilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to produce wind turbine blades, hydrogen storage tanks, lower-carbon building materials, and energy storage solutions. Other focus areas include a potential new center for training, inspection, and accreditation and a proposed joint technology development center and laboratory to promote innovation.
Wail Al Jaafari, Aramco EVP of Technical Services, commented, "We look forward to expanding our efforts with CNBM as we pursue breakthroughs in materials science that have the potential to deliver tangible benefits for the building sector and beyond".
"From developing solutions that could reduce construction emissions to innovations that enhance product performance, our goal is to help drive the materials transition. By combining Aramco’s expertise in nonmetallic materials and CNBM’s industry know-how, we aim to identify groundbreaking advances and new business opportunities, as well as promote further development of manufacturing capabilities within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia", he added.
One of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, Aramco is dedicated to creating impact in all types of its activities - from providing crucial oil supplies to developing new energy technologies. This CFA builds on Aramco’s existing relationship with CNBM and follows the 2021 launch of the Nonmetallic Excellence and Innovation Center for Building Materials (Nexcel), in Beijing, by the Saudi oil major and China Building Materials Academy, the science and technology branch of CNBM.
On the strategic deal, Zhou Yuxian, CNBM Chairman, said: “We attach great importance to strategic cooperation with Aramco. This agreement combines CNBM’s and Aramco’s respective strengths with the goal of win-win cooperation. CNBM is seeking to promote a low-carbon transition through the nonmetallic materials industry".
"By leveraging our work in low-carbon integrated solutions, CNBM aims to complement Aramco’s efforts to advance the materials transition. This agreement envisages a wide range of cooperation that has the potential to positively contribute to low-carbon development while supporting further strategic alignment between China and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia", he added.