Saudi Polyolefins delays start-up of new Al Jubail PP line

19 March 2009 07:51  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--Saudi Polyolefins Co has again delayed the start up of its new 270,000 tonne/year polypropylene (PP) line in Al Jubail by more than two weeks to early April, a source close to the company said on Thursday.

"The delay is mainly due to technical glitches," the source added. This is the second time the company has missed its start-up deadline. The launch had earlier been delayed from the end of February to mid-March.

The company currently operates two PP lines with a combined capacity of 450,000 tonnes/year. With the opening of the new line, the company's PP capacity at Al Jubail will increase to 720,000 tonnes/year.

Propylene feedstock for the additional capacity will be procured from the Saudi Ethylene and Polyethylene Co (SEPC) cracker, which started up at Al Jubail late last year.

Saudi Polyolefins is a joint venture between Tasnee (National Industrialisation Co) and LyondellBasell. SEPC is a joint venture between Sahara Olefins Co (24.4%), Tasnee (50.6%) and LyondellBasell (25%).

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By: Prema Viswanathan
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