Abstract:
Saudi Industrial Investment Group (SIIG) and Arabian Chevron Phillips Petrochemical Company Limited (ACP) announced earlier that they intend to build a Polyamide 6,6 manufacturing plant and a number of polymer conversion projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The projects will be located in the Eastern Province industrial city of Al-Jubail, and are slated to begin operations in 2013.
The polyamide 6,6 plant will be built using technology licensed from a leading producer of polyamide 6,6. The polymer conversion projects are expected to include high-performance polyethylene pipe, irrigation products, medical disposables, complex caps and closures, pharmaceutical packaging products, polyamide 6,6 compounding, electrical fittings and automotive parts.
ACP (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC) and SIIG (a Saudi joint stock company) own interests in Saudi Chevron Phillips Company (SCP) and Jubail Chevron Phillips Company (JCP). Both joint venture projects are in Al-Jubail and are collectively known as S-Chem.
SCP began operations during December 1999 and produces benzene, cyclohexane and gasoline blendstocks. SCP was also the first private sector investment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's petrochemical industry. SCP is owned 50% by ACP and 50% by SIIG. The JCP facility produces benzene, ethylbenzene, styrene and propylene, and began commercial production during the second half of 2008. JCP is owned 50% by ACP and 50% by SIIG.
In addition to and in compliment with these projects, the Saudi Polymers Company (SPCo), is a limited liability company incorporated in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia owned 35% by ACP and 65 percent by National Petrochemical Company (Petrochem). Petrochem is a joint-stock company incorporated in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and owned 50% by Saudi investors and 50% by SIIG.
SPCo is currently constructing a project in Al-Jubail adjacent to the S-Chem facilities.
Once completed, the SPCo project will include a world-class olefins cracker and will produce ethylene, propylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and 1-hexene. SPCo began construction in January 2008, with commercial production scheduled to begin during the second half of 2011.
Taken together, the new polyamide 6,6 manufacturing plant and polymer conversion projects represent the next major strategic investments in the region. They are also expected to provide career opportunities for Saudi nationals.