Saudi petchems producer Advanced announced on 8 October an amendment to its agreement to build a propane dehydrogenation/polypropylene (PDH/PP) complex at Jubail to incorporate a 70,000 t/y isopropanol (IPA) unit. Advanced told the Tadawul exchange the IPA plant will cost an estimated $80mn (SR300mn) and the total cost of the project’s PDH, PP and IPA plants is currently estimated to be $1.88bn (SR7.05bn). The IPA plant, like the PDH/PP complex, is expected to begin commercial operations in the second half of 2024.
Advanced and Korea’s SK Gas are building the PDH/PP complex – whose final product will be 800,000 t/y of PP – and IPA plant as a joint venture. Advanced, one of the smaller independent Saudi petchems firms (MEES, 9 October), will own 85% and SK 15%. Advanced awarded project management and technology license contracts for the PDH/PP complex in May and aims to begin construction in 2021 (MEES, 22 May). (CONTINUED - 178 WORDS)