Borouge completes AI autonomous operations proof of concept
Proof of concept is a key milestone in goal of creating an autonomous control room
#UAE #manufacturing - Borouge, the multi-billion dollar Abu Dhabi-listed petrochemical company has completed a proof of concept for AI-powered autonomous operations at its Ruwais facility in partnership with US industrial automation leader Honeywell. Conducted in a live production environment, the trials indicate potential efficiency increases of up to 20 percent, reliability enhancement through 20 percent downtime reduction, and operating cost reductions of up to 15 percent. The milestone forms part of Borouge’s AI, Digitalisation and Technology programme, which targeted $575 million in value generation for 2025. The P.o.C. advances Borouge’s work toward the petrochemical industry’s first AI-driven control room for full-scale real-time operations, announced last year.
SO WHAT? - Borouge’s successful proof of concept demonstrates AI’s viability for autonomous control in complex, high stakes petrochemical manufacturing environments. The potential cost and efficiency gains could reshape competitive dynamics in the petrochemical sector, encouraging wider adoption of autonomous operations technology across energy-intensive industries seeking to reduce operating expenses and emissions. The proof of concept is the first major milestone announced in Borouge’s partnership with Honeywell to develop the petrochemical industry's first AI-driven autonomous control room for full-scale operations.
Here are some key points about this announcement:
ADX-listed petrochemical company Borouge and US industrial automation leader Honeywell have completed AI-powered autonomous operations trials at the Ruwais facility, marking progress toward developing the petrochemical industry’s first AI-driven control room for full-scale real-time operations.
The proof of concept, conducted in a live production environment during 2025, indicates potential to increase operational efficiency by up to 20 percent, whilst enhancing reliability through 20% reduction in downtime across manufacturing processes.
Results suggest the technology could lower operating costs by up to 15 percent whilst enhancing process safety and supporting sustainable operations through significant energy consumption and emissions reductions.
The initiative serves as a core component of Borouge’s AI, Digitalisation and Technology Programme, which targeted $575 million in value generation in 2025 through a portfolio of AI-led and digital initiatives.
The Honeywel collaboration demonstrates how AI-enabled autonomous operations can be deployed safely and effectively in live production environments, delivering meaningful efficiency and reliability improvements at scale.
Following the successful proof of concept, Borouge will advance work to further demonstrate autonomous operations potential and assess opportunities to scale the technology across its Ruwais facilities.
Borouge operates through a strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company holding 54% majority stake and Austrian petrochemical company Borealis maintaining 36% ownership, serving customers in over 90 countries.
ZOOM OUT - Borouge announced partnerships with both Honeywell and Japanese automation company Yokogawa UAE Industry in 2025 to develop separate AI-driven autonomous control room proofs of concept at its Ruwais facility. Honeywell conducted trials at the Borouge 2 Cracker whilst Yokogawa worked on the Borouge 3 Cracker, with both initiatives targeting the creation of the petrochemical industry's first fully autonomous AI-driven control room.
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]
Read more about Borouge’s efforts to harness AI:
Yokogawa develops AI control room for Borouge (Middle East AI News)
Borouge, Honeywell to develop AI control room (Middle East AI News)