RIYADH�Saudi Arabian Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) said Wednesday that test operations have begun at several of its polyolefin expansion projects. SABIC Managing Director and Deputy Chairman Mohammed al Madhi detailed the completed expansions, along with some that are nearly finished, to the Saudi Press Agency earlier this week.
Al Madhi noted that production has started at a 265,000 tonnes/year high-density polyethylene (HDPE) unit, the first of two new units being added at the Yanbu complex of SABIC subsidiary Saudi Yanpet Petrochemical Co. Al Madhi said he expects a second unit of the same size to go on stream next month. The second Yanpet HDPE unit will boost Saudi Yanpet Petrochemical Co.'s polyethylene output to about 1.5 million tonnes/year, said Al Madhi.
SABIC affiliate Kemya began experimental operations 2 weeks ago at its new 220,000 tonne/year low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plant at Al Jubail. The expansion will boost the subsidiary's polyethylene capacity to more than 1 million tonnes/year.
Al Madhi also noted that an expansion project at the complex of SABIC affiliate Eastern Petrochemical Co. (Sharq) is expected to be completed by the beginning of July. It will boost LDPE capacity at the complex to 750,000 tonnes/year.
He also said work is proceeding on the expansion of Saudi-European Petrochemical Co.'s complex. This project will double polypropylene capacity to 640,000 tonnes/year. It is expected to be completed by December.