Saudi's SABIC to shut 1m tonne/year MTBE plant

04 November 2010 07:57  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Petrochemical giant Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) plans to shut its biggest methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) plant in Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia, from end of December for a regular turnaround, market players said on Thursday.

The maintenance of the 1m tonne/year plant would last 45 days, they said.

The company was not available for comment.

SABIC last shut its smallest 300,000 tonne/year MTBE plant at the same site from September to early October for an unscheduled maintenance.

Its 700,000 tonne/year MTBE plant is also located at Al-Jubail.

MTBE is used as an additive to improve gasoline's octane levels.

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By: Felicia Loo

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