SAMSUNG E&A

SAMSUNG E&A, a total solutions provider for the global energy industry, announced that its Saudi Arabia Advanced Polyolefin Company (APOC) Propane Dehydrogenation and Utilities & Offsite (PDH/UTOS) Project has been honored as the Energy Project of the Year at the 2025 MEED Projects Awards, presented in association with Mashreq.

The MEED Projects Awards recognize the most outstanding achievements in project delivery across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Winners are selected based on excellence in engineering and design innovation, project management and execution, as well as a commitment to sustainability. SAMSUNG E&A was recognized as the Saudi Arabia National Winner and was honored, additionally receiving the special “Highly Commended” Award for MENA for successful delivery of the APOC PDH/UTOS Project—overcoming extraordinary global challenges to complete this landmark development.

The awards ceremony, hosted by MEED at the JW Marriott Hotel Dubai Marina, brought together leading figures from the regional energy and construction sectors. Attendees included Ali M. Al-Shahrani VP of 0perations and Corporate Executive, Tahir Iqbal, Project Manager of Advanced Polyolefin Company (APOC); Sukjin Lee, Vice President of SAMSUNG E&A and Project Manager of the APOC PDH/UTOS Project; DongChan Kim, Vice President and Managing Director of SAMSUNG E&A Saudi Arabia; and Seongjin Hwang, Branch Manager of SAMSUNG E&A UAE. This marks the 14th consecutive year SAMSUNG E&A has received recognition at the MEED Projects Awards.

The APOC PDH/UTOS Project is a world-class propylene production facility with an annual capacity of approximately 843,000 tons, making it the largest of its kind in Saudi Arabia. Despite global disruptions—including surging material costs driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict—SAMSUNG E&A successfully achieved mechanical completion on schedule.

To ensure timely delivery and maximize site safety, SAMSUNG E&A employed modular construction techniques, designing, fabricating, and installing 25 large modules with a total weight of around 7,840 tons. The modules—preassembled structural units containing equipment, piping, and instrumentation—were fabricated in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia and transported safely despite logistical constraints. Amid global supply chain disruptions, SAMSUNG E&A prioritized local sourcing and resource utilization to enhance project stability and support regional economic growth. Key bulk materials, such as pipes and cables, were procured through local suppliers to ensure a reliable supply while strengthening the Saudi industrial ecosystem.

The company also implemented a series of value engineering and smart construction initiatives to improve productivity and quality. These included adopting precast concrete construction for all functional and manned buildings—accelerating the schedule and improving durability compared to conventional on-site concrete works. At the same time, SAMSUNG E&A introduced a Smart Piping Shop, an advanced automated facility where robots, sensors, and precision machinery fabricate pipe spools in a controlled environment. This system ensured consistent quality, timely delivery, and significantly reduced on-site welding work. In line with its strong commitment to safety, SAMSUNG E&A deployed inspection robots for hydro and leak tests, minimizing worker exposure to hazardous environments while maintaining strict quality assurance.

Sukjin Lee, Vice President of SAMSUNG E&A and Project Manager of the APOC PDH/UTOS Project, stated: “We are deeply honored that the APOC PDH/UTOS Project has been recognized as Saudi Arabia’s premier energy project. This achievement reflects our team’s dedication, innovation, and collaboration with our client to deliver a sustainable and high-performing facility.” He added, “At SAMSUNG E&A, we remain committed to developing energy solutions that not only meet our clients’ needs but also contribute to local development and global sustainability.”