Linde to build Saudi air separation plants

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Nov. 23 -- Saudi Basic Industrial Corp. (SABIC) subsidiary National Industrial Gas Co. (NIGC) has let a contract worth more than €300 million to Linde AG for two air separation plants in petrochemical complexes at Jubail and Yanbu, Saudi Arabia.

Linde will handle engineering, procurement of equipment and materials as well as construction and commissioning of the facilities, each of which will generate 3,000 tonnes/day of pure oxygen.

NIGC Chairman Ibrahim Al-Shuweir said the plants are part of SABIC's plan to increase overall petrochemical output to 60 million tonnes/year by 2008 from 43 million tpy in 2004.

The plants are scheduled to start operation in April 2008.