Apr 27 2005
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) has selected Basell’s Hostalen technology for two new high density polyethylene plants to be built in Europe and Saudi Arabia.
One of the plants, to be built by SABIC’s affiliate, Yanbu National Petrochemical Company, will be part of a new petrochemical complex in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. The plant will have an annual capacity of 400 KT, with start-up planned for 2007. The other plant, to be built by Sabic Europe at one of its European sites, will have an annual capacity of 220 KT, with start-up scheduled in 2008.
The license agreement includes an option for Sabic to enter into an additional five license agreements to build Hostalen process plants.
“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to work with SABIC in these new projects,” said Just Jansz, president of Basell’s Technology Business. “SABIC is one of the largest and most important polyethylene producers in the world; the company’s selection of Hostalen technology validates our view that this process offers the best combination of high-value product capability and attractive economics.”
The Hostalen process is a dual reactor, low-pressure slurry technology for the production of HDPE. The two reactors can be operated in parallel or in series to customize product properties, especially for bimodal HDPE.
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