With thousands of valves installed across the Gulf, the company is deepening regional roots through localisation, pioneering technology, and solutions for next-generation energy applications, Jon Gorrotxategi tells OGN

AMPO Poyam Valves is a trusted name in the Middle East’s energy sector. But beyond being a supplier, the company now plays a vital role in the energy value chain, combining advanced engineering with smart, integrated solutions and a strong regional presence through AMPO Arabia in Dammam and its Dubai office.

Built for the region’s toughest conditions, AMPO’s engineering philosophy focuses on durability, reliability, and safety in extreme environments, from sour gas to high temperatures and offshore exposure.

Its innovations, including high-integrity pressure protection systems (HIPPS), hypercentric ball valves, and Dilating Disk Control Valves (DDV), enhance performance and operational safety.

"As the energy transition accelerates, AMPO is developing solutions for hydrogen, carbon capture, biofuels, and synthetic fuels. Supported by local manufacturing and service capabilities, it continues to expand its footprint and strengthen long-term partnerships across the Gulf," Jon Gorrotxategi, Vice-President Sales, tells OGN energy magazine.

Below are excerpts from the interview:

How would you describe AMPO Poyam Valves’ journey in the region, and the role AMPO plays today in the energy value chain?

Jon Gorrotxategi

With a proven installed base of well over 130,000 valves across gas processing and transportation plants, LNG liquefaction trains, refineries, petrochemical plants, offshore fields and mining. AMPO Poyam Valves has since the 1990s been a trusted partner for operators in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, and Kuwait;

In Saudi Arabia alone, our valves are operating in facilities, such as Khursaniyah gas plant, Jubail export refinery, Yanbu Distribution Hub, Marjan, Berri, Jafurah and Safaniya fields, Hawiyah Unayzah gas, and Maaden aluminium plants.

In Qatar, we have been part of liquefaction trains for RasGas and Qatargas, Barzan, Jetty Boil-Off Gas recovery and Pearl GTL.

In the UAE, we have supplied key projects such as Al Taweelah Refinery, UZ750, AGD II, and IGD-E2.

And in Kuwait, we have supported Mina Abdulla Refinery, Al Zour Refinery, Clean Fuels Project for KNPC, petrochemical projects for Equate, etc.

Today, our role is much broader than simply being a valve supplier. We are a solutions partner, delivering not only highly engineered valves, but also integrated smart solutions and after-sales services.

Our presence has expanded to include a manufacturing and servicing facility in Dammam, AMPO Arabia, fully aligned with Saudi Aramco’s iktva programme; and an office in Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai, where we collaborate closely with local shops and participate in ADNOC’s ICV programme.

This localised presence brings us closer to our customers, allowing us to shorten lead times, enhance service responsiveness, and transfer global know-how into the region.

The Middle East is known for its extreme service conditions, from sour gas to high temperatures and offshore environments. How does AMPO’s engineering philosophy address these challenges?

A subsea ball valve

At AMPO, we have built our engineering philosophy around designing for the most severe conditions, such as the Middle East, which is a natural testing ground for valve performance, given its combination of sour gas fields, high temperatures, and offshore exposure.

That means advanced metallurgy, robust sealing systems that withstand high pressure and temperature cycles, and surface treatments that extend equipment life in corrosive or abrasive environments.

What truly sets us apart is our commitment to excellence. Every valve we design is tested and validated under the toughest simulated conditions so that customers can rely on real-world performance, not just compliance on paper.

What technologies or solutions do you see as game changers for operators in the Gulf, particularly as the energy transition accelerates?

A clear game changer for the region is our expertise as a high integrity pressure protection system (HIPPS) integrator.

AMPO offers complete HIPPS solutions, and what sets us apart is that we offer the full scope: SIL assessment, certification and safety analysis reports up to the complete integration of pressure transmitters, mechanical interlocking manifolds, logic solvers, actuators and valves into a fully tested system.

Thanks to our certified in-house functional safety engineers, we can manage the most complex projects with full compliance to international standards.

We conduct Integrated Factory Acceptance Testing (IFAT) of the entire HIPPS package in our facilities, and our qualified service engineers carry out Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) anywhere in the world.

Alongside HIPPS, we are advancing hypercentric ball valves, which combine the sealing performance of triple-offset butterfly valves with the robustness of trunnion ball valves.

Additionally, our Dilating Disk Control Valves (DDV), which based on a three-petal mechanism, deliver precise flow control and lower fugitive emissions than traditional globe valves, being a smarter alternative.

We are also developing new solutions for hydrogen, carbon capture, biofuels and synthetic fuels, and reinforcing our Integrated Smart Solutions (ISS) portfolio from actuator control and system integration to advanced monitoring.

AMPO Arabia was established to strengthen local presence. How important is regional service and manufacturing capability to your customers, and do you see opportunities for further expansion?

AMPO Arabia represents a strategic step to be closer to our customers in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region. Having a local plant in Dammam allows us to provide faster delivery times, more efficient after-sales service, and greater responsiveness to the specific needs of our clients.

The Dammam plant is just the beginning. Looking ahead, we see great potential for further expansion across the Gulf and beyond.

How is AMPO supporting the energy transition, and how are you preparing your product portfolio to serve these new markets?

AMPO has firmly committed to the energy transition, and is developing advanced valve solutions specifically designed for low-carbon energy applications, including hydrogen, carbon capture, biofuels, and synthetic fuels.

These solutions are engineered to withstand the demanding conditions of these new markets, while ensuring the safety, efficiency, and reliability our clients require.

Beyond the technology itself, what do you believe drives clients’ trust in AMPO for such strategic developments?

Beyond the quality of our technology and our technical expertise, clients trust AMPO because of our commitment, reliability, deep understanding of their operational needs, and client-focused mindset.

We don’t just supply valves; we partner with our clients from project design through long-term operation, ensuring solutions are fully reliable.

Our proven track record in demanding environments—from cryogenic to high-temperature or high-pressure, as well as corrosive and abrasive applications—demonstrates our ability to deliver consistently, even under the most severe conditions.

Additionally, our local presence through AMPO Arabia enables us to provide agile support, fast response times, and close collaboration, which is particularly valuable for strategic projects.

At AMPO, we foster long-term partnerships with leading operators, ensuring they can rely on us not just for technology, but for comprehensive support throughout the lifecycle of their assets.

Large sized valves, cryogenic service, and high temperature environments are among your areas of expertise. How do these demanding applications shape the way AMPO manages design, production, testing, and logistics?

Working in demanding applications requires a rigorous and highly disciplined approach across every stage of our operations.

During design, we focus on robust engineering and advanced simulations to ensure that our valves can withstand extreme conditions while maintaining reliability and safety.

In production, our in-house foundry and manufacturing capabilities allow us to maintain tight control over quality, ensuring each valve meets or exceeds international standards.

Testing is equally critical: We validate our solutions under both simulated and real-world conditions to guarantee performance in the most severe services.

Finally, logistics and delivery are carefully managed to ensure components arrive safely and on time, even for remote or challenging projects.

What will AMPO highlight at this year’s ADIPEC, and what role do you see exhibitions playing in strengthening long-term partnerships in the region?

This year, AMPO will highlight our latest innovations in severe service applications, such as the Dilating Disk Control Valve (DDV) and our hypercentric ball valves, as well as our broad portfolio of solutions for the upstream industry.

Beyond the products themselves, exhibitions like ADIPEC allow us to engage directly with operators and partners, listen to their challenges, and explore how we can support them with both technology and long-term service.

For us, these events are an opportunity to demonstrate not only our capabilities, but also our commitment to collaboration, local presence, and lifecycle support—all of which are key to building lasting partnerships in the Middle East.