Chinese supplier documentation gaps in Aramco, ADNOC, and QatarEnergy contracts

When Aramco, ADNOC, or QatarEnergy requests a Chinese supplier's document package, the real problem begins with the technical review, not the price.

We see three documentation gaps that recur on major EPC contracts in the Gulf when contracting with Chinese manufacturers.

1. Material Certificate: EN 10204 Type 3.2

The Chinese manufacturer issues a material certificate signed by its internal quality department and considers it equivalent to an EN 10204 Type 3.2 certificate. It is not.

The specific difference: Type 3.2 certification requires, in addition to the signature of the manufacturer's inspection representative independent of the production department, the signature of an inspection representative authorized by the buyer or an inspector designated by official regulations. A certificate signed only by internal quality assurance does not exceed Type 3.1.

When a third-party inspection agency, such as Bureau Veritas, DNV, or SGS, reviews the document package against Aramco, ADNOC, or QatarEnergy requirements, the certificate is rejected and the batch is returned, with a delay typically ranging between 4 and 6 weeks on the critical path.

Procurement solution: explicitly state EN 10204 Type 3.2 in the purchase order, have the supplier confirm the independent inspection agency in writing, and review the certificate before shipment release.

2. Pressure vessel specification equivalence: ASME VIII and UNI EN 13445 versus GB/T 150

Unfired pressure vessels in LNG and refining projects in the Gulf are generally specified according to ASME VIII Div.1 or UNI EN 13445, while the Chinese manufacturer works according to GB/T 150. The differences are practical, not theoretical:

• Corrosion allowance: GB/T 150 accepts a default minimum value of 1 mm, whereas many Aramco and ADNOC specifications require at least 3 mm, and more for sour service; this changes the wall thickness in the drawings.
• Non-destructive testing for longitudinal welds: GB/T 150 accepts 20% spot radiography for many vessels, whereas ASME VIII, under clause UW-11(a), mandates full radiographic examination, or ultrasonic examination equivalent where permitted, for Category A welds when thickness exceeds specified limits, including 32 mm for carbon steel.
• Post-weld heat treatment (PWHT): Heat thresholds and holding times differ between GB/T 150 and ASME VIII Div.1 (Clause UW-40), and Aramco SAES specifications follow ASME.

Without a documented equivalence review of PQR and WPS records before manufacturing begins, the deviation surfaces during the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT), which is too late.

3. Pre-qualification and in-factory inspection plan

ADNOC evaluates suppliers through weighted criteria that include In-Country Value (ICV), financial solvency, technical capability, HSE records, quality assurance, human resources, and past performance; Aramco and QatarEnergy have similar frameworks.

The same discipline is required in the Inspection and Test Plan (ITP) within the Chinese factory:

• Clear distinction between Hold points, Witness points, and Surveillance points.
• Signature of the classification society surveyor (DNV, ABS, BV, LR, CCS, or KR) with the reference number and date of visit at every hold point.
• Track MTR and MTC certificates from casting to delivery, with the heat number stamped onto the material before machining.

Aligning both sides from day one usually saves two months on the delivery schedule and prevents document rejection during the final review.

What we do

These gaps are not manufacturer errors, but coordination gaps between two different documentation systems. We review the master contract specifications (Aramco SAES/SAEP, ADNOC ESS, QatarEnergy DEP/DEM) with you, convert contractual obligations into an actionable purchase order for the Chinese supplier, oversee PQR, WPS, NDE, and PWHT at the factory, coordinate third-party inspections (DNV, ABS, BV, LR, SGS, Intertek), and deliver a documentation package ready for final review.

If you are managing procurement from China for a QatarEnergy LNG, TA'ZIZ, Aramco, or any large Gulf project contract, the conversation is worth a call.

English version: Aramco, ADNOC, QatarEnergy supplier document gaps when sourcing from China

Contact: sales@meritustech.com · WhatsApp +86 134 8206 1802 · www.meritustech.com