Al Gharbia Pipe Company plant, a joint venture (JV) between manufacturing giant Senaat General Holding Corporation and two Japanese steel companies, will be operational in Q2 2019, Senaat’s CEO, Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri said at a media briefing in Abu Dhabi, Zawya reported.

“Production has started. We’re bidding actually and we are in the process of reaching out to various consumers,” Al Dhaheri commented.

Al Gharbia will be the UAE’s first manufacturer of large-diameter, thick wall, longitudinally-welded steel pipes to primarily serve the oil and gas transportation sector, according to Senaat.

Operations began in the facility in 2016.