MEA Hazardous Location Motor Starters Market Trends

Market Trends of MEA Hazardous Location Motor Starters Industry

Coal Preparation Plants Hold Significant Market Share

• Coal mines are rich in methane, and an explosion occurs in the confined cavern when exposed to open fire. Methane explosion is severe, as it often consists of an initial explosion leading to the burning of a coal dust cloud, which produces a more violent dust explosion.
• Growing dependency on coal production is triggering the growth of several coal plants in the region, driving the market. All machinery and electrical equipment inside the enclosed coal storage area or structure are approved for use in hazardous locations to eliminate potential ignition sources and provide appropriate equipment. These are supplied with spark- or explosion-proof motors, which are assigned a temperature code (T code).
• According to the General Authority for Statistics (Saudi Arabia), coal mining revenue was recorded at 0.44 million in 2022 and is projected to amount to USD 0.55 million in 2023. A dust ignition-proof motor is developed to exclude hazardous materials and prevent dust explosions. ABB delivers a wide range of dust ignition-proof motors, which helps prevent any explosion transmission of dust in the coal preparation.
• The United Arab Emirates plans to evolve as the first Gulf country to develop electricity from coal and maintain net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Further, Dubai is constructing a USD 3.4 billion Hassyan coal plant, which will increase capacity from 600 MW to 2,400 MW by this year. According to ACWA's statement, Jera Co. of Japan will supply coal as part of a long-term agreement with Acwa Power of Saudi Arabia to build the plant.
• Such expansion in coal mining plants in the region may further create significant demand for hazardous location motor starters.

Saudi Arabia to Experience Significant Market Growth

• Oil refineries are dominating the hazardous location motor starters market. Increasing dependency on oil products is triggering the growth of several oil refining plants. The region has witnessed a massive demand from the petroleum industry. The oil refineries are typically large, sprawling industrial complexes with extensive piping running all over, carrying streams of fluids between extensive chemical processing units for instant distillation columns.
• Countries in the Middle East furnish and export a significant amount of crude oil globally. The area commands considerable demand for industrial sensors used for various applications. For instance, according to Baker Hughes, the number of oil and gas rigs in the Middle East recently stood at 275, including offshore and land, the second-highest in the world.
• In addition, regular electric motors are prone to explosions containing flammable elements such as oil and gas fumes or liquids. The implications could vary from modest production interruptions to serious injury and death.
• Further, in January last year, Honeywell, an international technology player, announced the new oil and gas exhibit facility in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The facility was created as part of a joint venture (JV) partnership between Elster Instromet Saudi Arabia and Gas Arabian Services to provide a cutting-edge infrastructure for the manufacturing and assembly of natural gas and liquid fuel solutions. Such regional oil and gas investments will significantly drive the Motor Starter market.
• The increased number of populations across the country may further drive the growth of oil refineries, thereby creating significant demand for hazardous location motor starters in the market. For instance, according to OPEC, Saudi Arabia has a population of around 35.5 million, more than seven million of whom live in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia possesses about 17% of the world's proven petroleum reserves. The country has exported 1,344 (1,000 b/d) of petroleum products recently.
• As a result, the region is rapidly using various types of hazardous site motors, which are engineered such that their motor case temperatures do not exceed permissible temperatures for settings with flammable gases, vapors, or liquids.