Las empresas Repsol y Ravago apuestan por Marruecos
The Alawi kingdom continues to receive international companies that want to set up in the country to project their businesses and open up a niche in a more different market that is beginning to emerge. Repsol, the Spanish energy multinational, together with Ravago, a Belgian composites manufacturer, have announced their commitment to set up in Morocco. The two brands intend to open a large factory that will produce large quantities of polypropylene (PP) compounds. This material is one of the most versatile plastics available and can be found in most products.
Construction will begin shortly and the plant is expected to be operational as early as next year. The plant will be located in the Tangier region in the north of the country. According to the two multinationals. The factory will be capable of producing 18,500 tonnes of polypropylene per year. This will meet the demands of the country's local industries to be able to use these resources for their own benefit.
It will be a factory that will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology to be able to perform its function. The companies claim that it will be very well equipped and will have the most modern machinery. On the other hand, the power supply for it to work will be based on resins produced in Spain, something that has been done in the Iberian Peninsula for quite some time.
The Ministry of Industry of the Alawi country has already announced its commitment and support for the two companies, lending its image to the sponsorship of the factory. It has also been supported by car manufacturers such as Renault and Stellantis, a subsidiary of Peugeot.
The latter is due to the fact that, in Morocco, polypropylene compounds are used to a greater extent for vehicle-related products. PP is used to produce door and engine panels, bumpers, lighting and heating systems, among other things. Therefore, having a company dedicated to this service set up in the Kingdom is very beneficial for the automotive multinationals, as they will be able to purchase these products cheaper than if they were imported.
When the building starts operating, Repsol has announced that it will be in charge of marketing most of the products that are manufactured. This will be done through its most common subsidiaries and brands, such as Repsol Isplen and Repsol Impacto. On the other hand, Ravago will be responsible for manufacturing the compounds. The Belgian brand will create compounds derived from polyamide (PA), polycarbonate or also called polyacrylonitrile butadiene styrene (PC-ABS) and polybutene terephthalate (PBT).
Repsol, with the opening of this new factory, adds that this investment is part of a strategic plan to begin to enter the market for chemicals and their compounds. With this expansion of its services, the Spanish brand seeks to increase its international presence.
It is also reinforcing its commitment to the automotive sector, which has long been one of its main interests. It has recently started to improve its infrastructures in Spain. At the Monzón plant, it has invested 4.5 million euros in its modernisation. It has then installed a second gas-phase reactor at its Tarragona plant. These two buildings specifically produce PP. It also has another chemical plant in the city of Sines, Portugal.
The inauguration of this new plant aims to improve the range of services offered in Morocco for specific materials for the manufacture of car parts, according to Repsol. Most of these products will be destined for the assembly lines of models in the car factories in the cities of Tangier, Kenitra and Casablanca. It also means an increase in local production in the Kingdom, which will have positive effects on the national economy of the Maghreb country.