Sharq delays new Al-Jubail PE, cracker project to H2 2009

13 March 2009 07:52  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--Eastern Petrochemical Co (Sharq) has further delayed the start-up of its new polyethylene (PE) and ethane cracker project in Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia, to the second half of 2009, a source close to the project said on Friday.

"The main reason for the postponement is a construction delay," the source said.

The project was earlier expected to go on stream in the second quarter of this year, after missing its first deadline in the fourth quarter of 2008.

The project will produce 1.3m tonnes/year of ethylene, 400,000 tonnes/year of high density PE (HDPE) and 400,000 tonnes/year of linear low density PE (LLDPE).

The Sharq project is part of close to 4m tonnes/year of PE capacity that is scheduled to start up in the Middle East in 2009.

Sharq currently operates two LLDPE plants with a total capacity of 750,000 tonnes/year at Al-Jubail.

Sharq is a 50:50 joint venture between Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) and Saudi Petrochemical Development Corp (SPDC), a Japanese consortium led by the Mitsubishi group.

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By: Prema Viswanathan
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