May 29 2009
ExxonMobil Chemical Technology Licensing, LLC today announced it has signed an agreement with Saudi International Petrochemical Company (Sipchem) to license ExxonMobil's tubular high pressure low density polyethylene process (HPPE) technology for Sipchem's new world-scale ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) plant.
The 200,000 metric ton per year plant will be built at Sipchem's site in Jubail Industrial City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as part of Sipchem's third phase projects. The plant will be operational by the end of 2013.
The highly efficient and flexible design of the Sipchem plant will be based on current state-of-the-art reactors operated by ExxonMobil Chemical to manufacture EVA and low density polyethylene (LDPE) products, allowing for Sipchem to produce a wide range of both EVAs and LDPE grades. In addition to Sipchem, ExxonMobil has eight licensees of its proprietary HPPE process technology around the world.
"We license the same state-of-the-art technology we use every day in ExxonMobil Chemical plants around the world," said Gary Schmidt, vice president, ExxonMobil Chemical Technology Licensing, LLC. "Based on our own success with this technology, we believe that Sipchem will become a world-class supplier of EVA products to the Middle East and global markets."
ExxonMobil Chemical has over 39 years of experience as one of the world's premier low density polyethylene producers with 1,100 kta of installed capacity at four locations around the world.
"ExxonMobil technology has been selected after detailed due diligence on all available technologies," said Dr. Abdullatif Bhairi, vice president, Sipchem. "By employing ExxonMobil's state-of-the-art technology, Sipchem will be able to produce a range of needed EVA grades for the first time in the Middle East and provide superior products to customers worldwide."