South Korean private-sector firm SeAH Steel has signed two large-scale contracts to supply steel pipe to Abu Dhabi's state-owned oil firm Adnoc, to accelerate its entry into the Middle East market.
SeAH Steel UAE will supply about 200,000t of steel pipes over five years to Adnoc for use in its oil and gas projects, but did not disclose further details. SeAH's Italian-based subsidiary Inox Tech will provide about 14,000t of clad steel pipes to Adnoc's Hail and Ghasha natural gas field project in the UAE from first-half 2024. "Production from the Ghasha concession is expected to start around 2025, ramping up to produce more than 1.5bn ft³/d of natural gas before the end of the decade," Adnoc said last year.
"Overseas production subsidiaries are recognised for their competitiveness as major suppliers in the energy steel pipe market, by signing large-scale orders in the Middle East market in succession," a SeAH Steel official said.
This development is in line with South Korea expanding its connections with the key energy-producing region, especially in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict. South Korea relies almost entirely on imports to meet its energy consumption, and having connections with Middle East energy projects can only help South Korea gain priority as an export destination.