Diriyah Gate and Saudi’s OSP ink MoU to use sustainable polymer construction material
The developer said it is carrying out projects that rely on sustainability principles and environment protection
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed by Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) and Saudi Arabia’s Oil Sustainability Programme (OSP). The MoU will see the firms collaborate on the use of sustainable polymer construction materials in DGDA’s projects and providing the required technical and logistic support with relevant entities in the field.
The OSP was launched in 2020 with the participation of multiple government agencies, research institutions and companies in Saudi Arabia. It’s goal is to maximise the added value of hydrocarbons through developing innovative hydrocarbon-based materials, promoting new and sustainable uses for these materials, such as using polymer-based materials, said the statement from DGDA.
The MoU is said to reflect the interdependence and integration of the Saudi Vision 2030 programmes, given that OSP and DGDA are outcomes of the vision. The OSP aims to sustain and grow demand on hydrocarbons, whether as a competitive energy source or raw materials used to produce various important products, while maintaining the highest levels of economic and environmental efficiency, DGDA noted.
The MoU is to foster strategic cooperation between the OSP and DGDA on hydrocarbon-based materials, explained Engineer Mohammad Hitham Al Tayyar, the Programme Director of OSP, after signing the deal with Jerry Inzerillo, Chief Executive Officer of DGDA in the presence of Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Energy Minister and Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of OSP and Ahmed AlKhateeb, the Tourism Minister and Secretary General of DGDA Board.
The MoU includes identifying opportunities that would improve the construction and operation processes in DGDA’s projects and developing plans to assess and implement these opportunities, as well as to develop awareness strategies to highlight common goals, Al Tayyar stated.
The cooperation also includes providing the required technical information and support for materials evaluation, coordinating between manufacturers, suppliers and relevant entities, and providing the required support when implementing these opportunities, he pointed out.
Inzerillo pointed out that the agreement supports the localisation of the associated supply chain in the Kingdom and explores opportunities to maximise the use of raw materials that use Saudi oil, as part of the feedstock value chain both regionally and globally.
Within the framework of Saudi Vision 2030, the DGDA was established in 2017 to preserve the history of Diriyah, celebrate its community and develop At-Turaif historic district, which is listed among UNESCO World Heritage sites, to be one of the world’s largest gathering places and a center for Saudi culture and heritage, he concluded.
In March 2022, SSH unveiled the concept design of the Diriyah Sales Centre in Riyadh, while in April, the developer awarded Egis the contract for project management services for part of its retail and heritage masterplan. In May, the developer also announced plans to transform Wadi Hanifah into a nature-focused getaway.
