The ethylene and polyethylene complex will be built at Al-Jubail

Basell has signed a joint venture agreement with Tasnee & Sahara Olefins for the construction of a new ethylene and polyethylene complex at Al-Jubail in Saudi Arabia. The complex, first announced last year (PRW.com 2 March 2005), will include a gas cracker and two 400,000tpa polyethylene plants. One plant will use Basell’s Hostalen process to produce HDPE, while the other will use Basell’s Lupotech T technology, to produce LDPE.

The complex is scheduled to start up in 2008, when the units will be the largest Hostalen and Lupotech T process plants in the world. Basell holds a 25% stake in the venture. Basell chief executive Volker Trautz said: “Basell is the largest polyethylene producer in Europe, and this project is part of our strategy to expand our geographic presence by establishing, together with strong local partners, new world-class manufacturing facilities with attractive feedstock conditions in close proximity to target markets.”