Plant set-ups: Sipchem starts up first PBT plant in Middle East; Chandra Asri licenses PP technology from LyondellBasell

Having announced the project in 2015, Saudi International Petrochemical Company (Sipchem) says its PBT plant located in Jubail Industrial City, owned by Sipchem Chemical Company, an affiliate of Sipchem, has commenced commercial operations. The total production capacity of the PBT plant is 63,000 tonnes/year.

The PBT plant performance tests were completed successfully. The financial impact of full commercial operations will be reflected in the company financial results as of the third quarter of 2018.

The first of its kind in the Middle East, the plant is an important step in Sipchem expansion and growth strategy. The addition of the PBT plant will allow Sipchem to further realise the benefit of its integrated package of products and will strengthen the added value chain.

The PBT plant uses butanediol produced by International Diol Company (IDC), an affiliate of Sipchem, as a feed material.

Sipchem owns 100% of the capital of Sipchem Chemical Company.

In other news, Indonesian company PT Chandra Asri Perkasa Tbk (CAP), has selected LyondellBasell’s polypropylene (PP) and low density polyethylene (LDPE) technologies for two new plants.

The plants will be constructed in its second petrochemical complex in Cilegon, Banten Province, Indonesia. The complex will include a 450 kilotonnes/year PP plant that will utilise LyondellBasell’s fifth generation Spheripol PP process technology. The complex will also include a 300 kilotonnes/year LDPE plant which will utilise Lupotech T process technology.

Erwin Ciputra, President Director of CAP stated: “Technologies were selected following an extensive process and we are confident that they will ensure productivity and efficiency of our new business operation.”

(PRA)

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