Production of earthquake-resistant reinforcing bars by Sabic’s iron and steel affiliate Hadded gained special attention in the Gulf following the devastating earthquake in Nepal.

“Sabic is the first company in the region to offer customised products and services to keep pace with local demands such as earthquake-resistant reinforcing bars specifically produced for Saudi Aramco projects,” said Abdulziz Al Humaid, Sabic executive vice president, metals.

But the Nepal earthquake, although having taken place in another region, reminded the local market of how important such a product could be for assets protection in such an eventuality.

Al Humaid spoke at a metal and steel event in Riyadh a few days before the earthquake struck.

Hadeed, the largest integrated complex for iron and steel production in the Middle East, produces long and flat products, meeting the highest international standards and specifications. It meets half the local demand for steel products with sales reaching around 6 million tonnes a year.

The company has a plan to raise annual production capacity to 10 million tonnes within the next decade but it has been put on hold with steel prices down,.

In 2013 it launched a plant at Jubail to produce 500,000 tonnes per year of reinforcing bar (rebar), bringing its total rebar output to 4 million tonnes and eliminating the need to import billets for conversion.