Huntsman plans new Saudi plant

04 July 2005 00:01  [Source: ICB Americas]

Huntsman Corp. has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Al-Zamil Group of Saudi Arabia to build a 30,000 metric-ton-per-year ethyleneamines plant at Jubail Industrial City on the Saudi Gulf coast. Huntsman says the world-scale plant is expected to come on line in 2008. 

Al-Zamil and Huntsman will have equal ownership in the facility, according to Huntsman. The plant will license Huntsman’s proprietaryethyleneamines technology the company uses in its US plants.

Huntsman also will serve as the exclusive sales and marketing arm for the plant and will provide technical services and product applications assistance.

The facility will produce ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine and higher molecular-weight versions such as TEPA, E-100, AEP and piperazine. The products serve as specialty intermediates for a variety of end uses including epoxy curing agents, bonding agents and lube-oil additives for gasoline and diesel engines.

Huntsman says the plant will serve markets in the Asia Pacific region, among others. Huntsman vice president for performance specialties Stewart Monteith says the planned Jubail facility “is a critical component of our growth strategy for our amines portfolio” and is being built to “help meet the growing global demand for ethyleneamines.”

Al-Zamil and Huntsman already are partners in a maleic anhydride butanediol production facility in Saudi Arabia.

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