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Apr 1, 2010 　　　　　　　　　ブログ

Celanese and SABIC Announce Polyacetal Expansion in Middle East

Construction of 50,000 ton facility in the region to support future growth of polyacetal industry;
Advantaged raw material position to support Ibn Sina joint venture and POM production

Celanese Corporation, a leading, global chemical company, and Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) today announced their National Methanol Co. (Ibn Sina) joint venture will construct a 50,000 ton polyacetal (POM) production facility in Saudi Arabia. The investment supports accelerated future growth plans for Celanese's Advanced Engineered Materials segment, specifically its Ticona Engineering Polymers business, as it delivers innovative solutions for POM customers; and SABIC, in support of its regional business development. Engineering and construction of the facility is expected to begin later this year.

Construction of the facility is part of an extension of the Ibn Sina joint venture, which will now run through 2032. Ibn Sina produces methanol, a key feedstock for POM production, as well as methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE). Through Ibn Sina, Celanese strengthens its raw material and energy positions.

Celanese, SABIC and Duke Energy Corporation entered into the Ibn Sina joint venture in 1981. Celanese and an affiliate of Duke Energy each hold a 25 percent interest in the venture, with the remaining 50 percent held by SABIC. Upon successful startup of the POM facility, Celanese's economic interest in Ibn Sina will increase from 25 percent to a total of 32.5 percent, providing further financial benefits for Celanese. SABIC's economic interest will remain unchanged. Over the past three years, Celanese has received approximately $238 million in dividends from the venture.

Total invested capital in the project is expected to be approximately $400 million.

The engineering and construction of the facility is expected to begin by 2011. The facility is envisaged to go on-stream by 2013, using methanol already being produced by IBN SINA. This represents a key feedstock for the production of POM, an engineered performance chemical product specifically used in automotive industries as well as in mechanical and construction fields. It also has many other industrial applications.

The new facility will boost SABIC’s position in the performance chemicals industry as an important part of its 2020 strategic plan. It also provides wider prospects for the Saudi national downstream industries to enter automotive and other advanced industries.

2010/4/1　SABIC　

SABIC strengthens technological achievements by developing advanced polypropylene catalyst

As a result of its commitment to innovation, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation announces its development of a more advanced technology for the manufacture of polypropylene. This is a fourth generation catalyst which can be used in several vital applications, the most important of which are packaging, carpets, piping, and automotive parts.

　　日本ポリプロ資料

This catalyst is a technological breakthrough, being the first of its kind developed in the Gulf and Middle East. Experiments conducted by SABIC at its plants Saudi Arabia and Europe confirm the catalyst’s ability to provide impressive results, making it superior to other catalysts currently used in the same area. This discovery will contribute to increased productivity, enhanced quality and new product development. It opens many windows for possible future application.

The new catalyst has been applied commercially in the SABIC affiliate, Saudi European Petrochemical Company (IBN ZAHR), and has demonstrated superiority over the previously used catalyst. By using the catalyst, production reached nearly 30,000 tons of polypropylene as at end of March 2010. This quantity was sold to local and international markets.

Mohamed Al-Mady, SABIC Vice Chairman and CEO praised the dedication of employees at the company’s Technology & Innovation division, saying “Your efforts have yielded this milestone, which is in line with the corporate goals and strategic plans of strengthening our position among the world’s leading petrochemical companies.” He continued, “I can assure you that SABIC continues to improve its working environment in order to advance innovation and creativity in all the company's sites around the world.”

Mr. Al-Mady added, “This milestone reflects constructive cooperation between SABIC’s different sectors working as an integrated team. This will add economic value and strengthen SABIC’s competitive position in the polypropylene industry and further its long-term relationships with its customers.”

SABIC, which is the world’s sixth largest petrochemical company, is also the world’s fourth largest producer of polypropylene.

Apr 3, 2010 Reuters　

Saudi SABIC-Japan JV starts output at expanded unit

Saudi Basic Industries Corp 2010.SE (SABIC) said it started on April 1 commercial production at a 2.8 million tonne expansion of a petrochemical joint-venture with Japanese partners including Mitsubishi.

In a statement posted on the bourse website, SABIC -- the world's biggest chemical firm by market value -- said the third expansion phase of Sharq would bring the overall capacity of the complex to 5 million tonnes per year.

Sharq is a joint venture equally owned by SABIC and SPDC Ltd, a Japanese consortium led by the government of Japan and a consortium of companies led by Mitsubishi.

三菱商事など、サウジ石化工場の増設工事が完了

　三菱商事や三菱化学など三菱グループがサウジアラビア東岸で同国政府系企業と進めてきた石油化学合弁工場の増設工事 が完了、１日に商業生産を開始した。サウジ側パートナーであるサウジ基礎産業公社（ＳＡＢＩＣ）が３日発表した。石化製品の基礎原料となるエチレンを、日本の生産量の２割近い年間130万トン生産できる設備などを新たに加えた。

　完工したのは三菱グループとＳＡＢＩＣが折半出資するイースタンペトロケミカル（通称シャルク）の石化コンビナート増設工事。シャルクは日 本とサウジの国家プロジェクトとして設立され、1987年に稼働を開始した。その後２度の増設を経て、2005年からエチレンやエチレングリコール、ポリ エチレンなどのプラント新設工事を進めてきた。

Ethylene	1,300
EG	700
LLDPE	400
HDPE	400

April 20, 2010 U.S.-Saudi Arabian Business Council

SABIC Plans Iron and Steel Plant in Jubail Industrial City

SABIC has announced that it will build a new iron and steel plant with an annual capacity of one million tons in Jubail Industrial City by 2012.

SABIC increased its iron and steel production by 7 percent and captured 62 percent of the local market in the first quarter of 2010. A recent 35 percent rise in steel prices to $187 (SR700) per ton may make the venture even more profitable.

2010/4/20 SABIC

SABIC signs agreement with KAUST to launch new research and innovation center

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) signed today a long-term research and innovation agreement with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). The agreement calls for the construction of the SABIC Research and  Innovation Center at University campus,  scheduled to begin operations in 2012.

The agreement, signed on behalf of SABIC by Dr. Abdulrahman bin Saleh Al-Ubaid, Executive Vice President, Technology and Innovation, and on behalf of KAUST by Dr. Mohamed Samaha, Senior Vice President for Economic & Technology Development, creates the framework whereby SABIC provides construction funding for the SABIC Research  and Innovation Center, as well as support for research on the jointly agreed industry/academic projects to be undertaken there.

HH Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Thenayan Al Saud, Chairman of the Royal Commission of Jubail and Yanbu and SABIC Chairman, expressed his pride in the cooperation and noted that the long-term investment would bring excellent returns at both the scientific and economic levels - and show strong leadership in innovation that leads to economic development both domestically and globally.

Mohamed H. Al-Mady, SABIC Vice Chairman and CEO, commented on the agreement saying that cooperation between SABIC and KAUST would lead to many innovations and technical solutions that serve the industrial sectors in Saudi Arabia, the region and the world. He noted that the long-term cooperation with KAUST would also launch creative careers in research and technical fields and further strengthen SABIC’s leader position in technology and innovation fields for years to come.

KAUST President, Professor Choon Fong Shih, said, “From its early commitment as a founding member of our Industrial Collaboration Program, SABIC has demonstrated its understanding of KAUST’s unique capabilities which enable us to build synergies among research, education, innovation and enterprise, as well as to harness science and technology to address global challenges of our time - for the benefit of the Kingdom and beyond.”

SABIC joins a number of international institutions partnering with KAUST to support education and economic development through scientific innovation that will, over time, deliver advances conforming with the vision of the University’s founder, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The SABIC Center for Research and Innovation will work to strengthen the collaboration and innovative goals shared by SABIC and KAUST, and employ between 100 and 150 scientists on research and technology projects, especially in the areas of catalysis, composites and membranes.
 
When completed, it will join two other technical centers now being developed in Shanghai (China) and Bangalore (India) as part of a global network numbering sixteen research centers.

The signing of the agreement happened simultaneously with the start of a two-day global technology leadership review at KAUST. Technology leaders from Saudi Arabia, Europe, America and Asia reviewed the research centers and capabilities at KAUST, especially in the field of sustainability.

SABIC Innovative Plastics
　　Global Application Technology Center　

・	Application Development Center	・	Southfield, Mich, USA
・	Polymer Processing Development Center		Pittsfield, Mass, USA
・	European Processing Center		Bergen op Zoom, the Netherlands
・	Europe Technology Center		Munich, Germany
・	China Technology Center		Shanghai, China
・	Welch Technology Center		Bangalore, India
・	Moka Technology Center		Moka, Japan

August 29, 2010　

Sabic Signs Technology Licensing Agreement With Germany’s Lurgi

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), announced Sunday that it has signed an agreement with Lurgi GmbH, a German firm, for the technology licensing and engineering that will allow SABIC to produce oleo-chemicals at its affiliate, Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Company (Saudi Kayan), following the completion of new facilities to be constructed in Jubail, Saudi Arabia.

Start up of the new production line is planned for the end of 2013 and will utilize renewable feedstock technology. “The feedstock used for this process is based on natural raw materials from renewable oils such as palm kernel oil and coconut oil. The use of renewable feedstock is part of SABIC’s overall commitment to sustainability and strong corporate citizenship,” said SABIC Executive Vice President, Technology & Innovation, Abdulrahman Al-Ubaid.

“SABIC’s diversification into oleo-chemical products is in line with the company’s strategy and drive to increase its performance chemicals portfolio. SABIC’s expansion of the ethylene oxide derivatives business, with particular emphasis on ethoxylate surfactants, will further be strengthened through backward integration into natural fatty alcohols.”

The new oleo-chemical plant will be the first of its type in the Middle East and includes an upstream natural acid unit, a wax-ester unit, a hydrogenation unit, a downstream natural alcohol fractionation and distillation line, as well as a complete glycerin line. The complex will be designed for the production of 83,000 tons per year of distilled natural alcohols of various compositions that are commonly used in household and laundry products, plasticizers, lube additives, plastic industries, cosmetics and personal care. Glycerin is used in food and beverage processing, personal care, pharmaceuticals and other applications.

2011/8/16

Saudi Kayan, China's Sinopec sign natural alcohols plant deal

Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co has signed a Saudi riyal (SR) 488m ($130.1m, €90.0m) contract with China's Sinopec Engineering Inc for the construction of a distilled natural alcohols plant at Al-Jubail in Saudi Arabia, Saudi Kayan said on Tuesday.

The plant will have a capacity of 50,000 tonnes/year and should be operational by the second half of 2013, added Saudi Kayan, which is 35%-owned by Saudi major SABIC.

Sinopec Engineering Inc, part of integrated petroleum and petrochemical company Sinopec, will supply detailed engineering and equipment and carry out the construction of the plant, Saudi Kayan said.

The plant, which will be the first of its kind in the Middle East, will meet part of SABIC's commitment to diversify into oleochemicals using renewable feedstocks and increase its performance chemicals portfolio, it added.

The renewable feedstocks process will be based on natural raw materials from renewable oils such as palm kernel oil and coconut oil.

Distilled natural alcohols are used in household and laundry products, plasticisers, lube additives, plastic industries, cosmetics and personal care products.

2011/3/1　

SABIC and ExxonMobil Elastomers Project joint venture moves into FEED stage

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) and affiliates of ExxonMobil Chemical announced that work on their proposed elastomers project joint venture has moved fully into Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED). 概念設計・FSの後に行われる基本設計

SABIC and ExxonMobil have selected Jubail Industrial City as the site for the new manufacturing units following a comprehensive evaluation of a number of variables, including integration opportunities with their existing petrochemical joint venture at KEMYA, to determine the best location for producing these specialty products.  

As previously announced, plans would establish a domestic supply of more than 400 KTA of rubber, thermoplastic specialty polymers (EPDM/TPE, TPO, Butyl, SBR/PBR) and carbon black to serve emerging local and international markets in Asia and the Middle East. The project also includes a vocational training institute and product application development and support center, which is aligned with Saudi Arabia’s National Industrial Clusters Development Program to grow and diversify the Kingdom's manufacturing sector. 
 
 The project has reached the optimal industrial layout with the move to Jubail. During FEED both partners, SABIC and ExxonMobil, are targeting development of a globally competitive project with best-in-class industry cost.

サウジアラビア政府は、産業育成専門機関 “National Industrial Clusters Development Program (NICDP)”（国家産業クラスター開発計画庁）を設立し、海外企業の進出支援に力を入れています。
http://www.saudiarabia-jccme.jp/pdf/p091008.pdf

2011/5/11 SABIC

SABIC and ExxonMobil Chemical award contracts, sign technology agreements for proposed new elastomers project

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) and affiliates of ExxonMobil Chemical announced that Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) contracts were awarded and that all components are in FEED phase for the proposed new elastomers project at their Al-Jubail Petrochemical Company (KEMYA)* joint venture petrochemical plant.

FEED contracts were awarded to Jacobs Engineering Inc. and Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding for process units and to Fluor Transworld Services Inc. for associated support facilities.

"This elastomers project will be the basis for the creation of a world-class rubber value chain in Saudi Arabia and a valuable extension of our offering of products and services to our customers in key markets," said Koos van Haasteren, SABIC executive vice president, Performance Chemicals.

“In addition to supporting local industry, the expansion at the KEMYA joint venture in Al-Jubail would provide additional new capacity of butyl rubber and EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) specialty elastomers to meet the growing global demand for these products,” said Neil Chapman, senior vice president, Polymers, ExxonMobil Chemical Company.

The project is expected to establish a domestic supply of more than 400,000 metric tons of rubber[butyl, styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), butadiene rubber (BR) and EPDM], thermoplastic specialty polymers and carbon black to serve emerging local and international markets in Asia and the Middle East. The project also includes the establishment of a vocational training center and product application development and support center, aligned with Saudi Arabia’s National Industrial Clusters Development Program to grow and diversify the manufacturing sector in Saudi Arabia. 

Third-party license agreements have been signed with Continental Carbon Company for its carbon black production technology and with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company for its SBR and polybutadiene rubber technology.   

The University of Akron Research Foundation was selected to design, train and support the vocational training center, The High Institute for Elastomer Industries* , in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia.  The training center will utilize the University's expertise in polymer science and education to provide elastomers technology vocational training for workers to support a planned downstream elastomers conversion industry in Saudi Arabia.

Additionally, a separate product application development and support center will be part of the new SABIC facilities at the Riyadh Techno Valley research complex at King Saud University. 

The final decision to implement the elastomers project requires the approval of KEMYA’s Board of Directors.

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2011/5/16 SABIC

SABIC and ExxonMobil’s joint venture KEMYA signs agreements with Continental Carbon to furnish licensed technology and market part production

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) and ExxonMobil Corporation’s 50/50 joint-venture partner, Al-Jubail Petrochemical Company (KEMYA), signed a long-term technology licensing agreement with Continental Carbon Company for its production technology related to the construction and operation of a new greenfield carbon black plant at KEMYA’s petrochemical complex at Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia.   

KEMYA and Continental Carbon Company have also signed a long-term product off-take agreement in addition to the technology license. Under terms of the agreement, Continental Carbon will market part of the production of the new KEMYA carbon black plant to serve the local and international tire industry.

Continental Carbon Company is one of the world’s prominent carbon black manufacturers and its production technology has been successfully demonstrated in operating plants all over the world. Continental Carbon also has relationships with customers globally, making it well-positioned to market the KEMYA carbon black. Continental Carbon continues to grow its carbon black business globally, including this venture with respected leaders in the chemical industry.    

The final decision to implement the carbon black project requires the approval of KEMYA’s Board of Directors.

2011/5/17　SABIC　

SABIC and Sinopec invest in polycarbonate plant with 260 kilo metric tonnes capacity in China

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) and China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec Corp.) today announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on polycarbonate production in China.

This new agreement will add to SABIC’s joint-venture with Sinopec, SSTPC (Sinopec SABIC Tianjin Petrochemical Company). A joint investment between both companies will fund a new polycarbonate production plant with an annual capacity for 260 kilo metric tonnes. 

Fully operational since 2010, Tianjin-based SSTPC (a 50:50 JV and established in October, 2009) produces various petrochemical products, including Ethylene, Polyethylene, Ethylene Glycol, Polypropylene, Butadiene, Phenol and Butene-1, among others.

　　　　　エチレン　100万トン
　　　　　 Gasoline Hydrogenation 65万トン
　　　　　LLDPE　30万トン　　　　　　　
　　　　　HDPE　30万トン（INEOS　Innovene S Process）
　　　　　PP　　　45万トン（LyondellBasell　Spherizone PP）　
　　　　　EOG　　42万トン(Dow技術）
　　　　　フェノール　35万トン/アセトン
　　　　　ブタジエン　20万トン
　　　　　MTBE　12万トン
　　　　　ブテン-1　5万トン
　　　　　PC　　　（FS中）

The new polycarbonate production plant will be located in SSTPC and is expected to be operational by 2015. It will leverage SABIC’s world-class advanced polycarbonate technology using phosgene and Dichloromethane 塩化メチレンfree process. The performance properties of purity, transparency and continuous process will bring local PC resin capabilities to a diverse customer base in China.

Sabic Innovative Plastics (formerly GE Plastics), Bayer, Asahi/Chi Mei and Mitsubishi Chemical/Mitsubishi Gas Chemical have independently developed and are using non-phosgene processes. In addition, Teijin and LG are also developing phosgene-free routes.

They all take the same overall approach where polymerisation relies on the transesterification エステル交換反応　of DPC with BPA.

Mohamed Al-Mady, SABIC Vice Chairman and CEO, said: “This new and exciting milestone is a strong endorsement of our partnership with Sinopec.  Today’s announcement will strategically position both companies as world-class producers of essential petrochemical supplies to meet increasing global demands for customers in China. Importantly, this agreement has set the stage for further growth in high-performance engineered thermoplastics.”

Wang Tianpu, Vice Chairman and CEO of Sinopec said: “Sinopec’s agreement on polycarbonate collaboration is another fruition of the deep and productive partnership with SABIC. Our partnership with SABIC is a good showcase of the close trade ties between China and Saudi Arabia. This investment plays critical role in perfecting our value chain and in enhancing our competitiveness. The project will drive local economic development, satisfy growing demands for polycarbonate in Asia Pacific and has significant importance to Chinese Petrochemical industry and local industry in Tianjin.”

Polycarbonate is an essential plastic used for producing components for automotive parts, compact discs, and a variety of consumer products as well as other industrial components.

Today, SABIC in Asia has seen strong double digit growth, with 41 offices, 10 manufacturing sites and 5 Technology & Innovation Centers across 13 key Asian markets servicing a portfolio of customers across diverse industries.

ーーー

2011/5/17 SABIC

SABIC Accelerates Growth in Asia with Key Investments in Polycarbonate and new Technology & Innovation Centers
　　New investments reflect Asia as the fastest-growing region for SABIC globally

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) today reiterated its commitment to growing its presence in Asia with new investments of two Technology & Innovation Centers in China and India, and a new project to produce polycarbonate (PC) in China. 

SABIC Chairman, His Highness Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Thenayan Al-Saud commented from Guangzhou, Guangdong, “These new investments reflect SABIC’s dedication to further expand our home market in Asia and highlights the importance we attach to our customers, partners and employees. In addition to these investments, SABIC is constantly improving assets, expanding offices across Asia, exploring other opportunities, and seeking new partnerships.”  Prince Saud is currently visiting China for a series of high-level meetings with officials from the private and public sectors and supporting SABIC’s participation in Chinaplas 2011.

Asia is SABIC's fastest growing region with strong double digit growth since its establishment in 1985 and it has clearly become the most important engines of growth for SABIC globally.

“Our strong presence in Asia reflects our ambition to be the preferred petrochemical supplier in this important region. SABIC has embarked on a series of infrastructure expansions as part of our growth plans here. These include our offices, manufacturing and Technology & Innovation operations across 13 key markets, supported by 2,000 employees. Our focus remains on helping our customers create products that would improve the quality of life around the world,” said Mohamed Al-Mady, SABIC Vice Chairman and CEO, at a media conference held alongside Chinaplas 2011.

Commitment to local partnerships
A key milestone of these new investments is the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Sinopec to collaborate on PC production with an annual capacity of 260 kilo metric tonnes in China. The new PC production plant will be located in Tianjin-based SSTPC (SINOPEC SABIC Tianjin Petrochemical Company) and is expected to be operational by 2015.

This MOU further strengthens SABIC’s partnership with SINOPEC, which started in October 2009 with the establishment of SSTPC. Fully operational since 2010, SSTPC produces key petrochemical products to customers across diverse industries in China.

Expanding T&I and operations
SABIC is strengthening its presence in the regions with two upcoming Technology and Innovation (T&I) centres strategically located in China and India.

The T&I centre in Shanghai, China will house the new Greater China Regional Headquarters (RHQ) occupying 60,000 sqm.  This Centre will oversee regional operations, sales and marketing, and spearhead research and development of new and innovative petrochemical products for Asia.

While the T&I centre in Bangalore spanning 187,000 sqm focuses on diverse areas of research. Both centres are expected to be operational in 2013.

2011/6/15 SABIC　

SABIC signs technology agreement with Montefibre for fully integrated world scale carbon fiber project in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) announced today that it has signed a technology agreement with Montefibre S.p.A (Montefibre) granting SABIC and its affiliates an extensive international licence on carbon fiber technology developed by Montefibre. SABIC will first use the technology for a new carbon fiber plant to be built in Saudi Arabia. This plant demonstrates how SABIC continues to add innovative new specialty products to its offering. It will enable SABIC to serve the growing demand for carbon fiber and composites in such fast-growing markets as alternative energy, transportation and infrastructure.

SABICの計画：投資額 32億ドル

MMA	250千トン	三菱レイヨンとJV　Saudi Methacrylates Company
PMMA	30千トン
アクリロニトリル	200千トン	旭化成とJV　Saudi Japanese Acrylonitrile Company
青酸ソーダ	40千トン
ポリアクリロニトリル	50千トン
ポリアセタール	50千トン
カーボンファイバー	3千トン

2009/5/11 　サウジのSABICとSipchem、新プロジェクトで相互協力の覚書

SABIC and Montefibre also signed a Memorandum of Understanding  for the companies to study the feasibility of a new carbon fiber production plant in Spain to be integrated into Montefibre’s existing acrylic fiber production site-and thus allowing SABIC to accelerate product development and material qualification activities with customers and end-users.

Once complete, the carbon fiber project is expected to establish a domestic supply of more than 3,000 metric tons of industrial grade carbon fiber to serve emerging local markets in the Middle East as well as international markets.

Commenting on SABIC’s commitment to enter the carbon fiber market, Koos van Haasteren, Executive Vice President, Performance Chemicals, said, “This carbon fiber project will be the basis for the creation of a world-class carbon composites value chain in Saudi Arabia and a valuable extension of our offering of innovative products and services to our customers in key markets. We are looking forward to developing many new and exciting applications as we grow our ability to supply competitive industrial grade carbon fiber products.”

Commenting on SABIC’s decision, Emilio Boriolo, Montefibre President and CEO, added “We are very proud of this opportunity of technical partnership with SABIC. Montefibre will bring in its experience and enthusiasm to help SABIC reach its ambitious goals.  I wish that the success of this initiative will result in  further collaboration between our companies.”

The project will also include the creation of a new carbon fiber product development center and composite plastics application development capabilities at the SABIC Plastics Application Development Center (SPADC) which is currently under construction at the Riyadh Techno Valley research complex at King Saud University. Both the carbon fiber production plant and the SPADC capabilities are aligned with Saudi Arabia’s National Industrial Clusters Development Program to grow and diversify the manufacturing sector in Saudi Arabia.

Derek Buckmaster, General Manager Functional Polymers, also highlighted: “Carbon fiber is a product which will offer our customers great value and will enable them to achieve their sustainability targets. For example, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in transportation markets such as automotive, heavy trucks and rail are enabled by weight reductions from utilizing lightweight carbon fiber composites.”

He further noted that the fibers and derivatives introduced by this project will allow SABIC to serve growing markets for traditional thermoset-based composites, and also enable SABIC to utilize its deep expertise in thermoplastic technologies to develop a broader range of short cycle-time composite solutions-all of which promotes the use of carbon fiber composites in applications that have not been able to benefit from the intrinsic strengths of carbon fiber composites.”

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1972年にMontedison の繊維関連企業を統合して設立、その後、各事業を分離。現在はアクリル繊維のみ。
　スペインの100%子会社Montefibre Hispaniaで年産95千トン
　中国の吉林で Jilin Qifeng Chemical Fiber (吉林奇峰化繊)との50/50ＪＶのJilin Jimont Acrylic Fiberで年産100千トン

September 8, 2011 European Plastic News

Sabic takes share in German auto firm Inpro

Plastics materials supplier Sabic is becoming a shareholder in Inpro, a German automotive technology and innovation company, the two companies announced at a briefing in Berlin Wednesday.

Sabic VP Automotive Greg Adams said the full agreement should be effectively closed “sometime in October”, while a joint communication says it will officially close before the end of the year, subject to regulatory approval.

The other shareholders in Inpro are automotive OEMs Daimler and Volkswagen, electrical and electronics company Siemens, steel company ThyssenKrupp and the federal German state of Berlin.

Plastics and paint materials supplier BASF was a shareholder in Inpro - through BASF Coatings - from 2001 until the end of 2010. IWKA group, which owns robotic specialist company Kuka, has also been a past shareholder in Inpro.

Inpro helped BASF develop back-moulded painted film mouldings that match painted steel bodywork. In 2008, this technique was applied to the black thermoplastic injection moulded roof element, made by Decoma, between the windscreen and roof opening of the VW Passat CC car.

Inpro’s projects have also included optimisation of online painting process chains and simulation of sheet metal forming.

Günter Walz, a vice president at Mercedes-Benz, represents Daimler on the Inpro supervisory board, and at the briefing he welcomed Sabic as shareholder, highlighting the company’s involvement in glazing and lightweight composite solutions.

Walz told European Plastics News that a lack of simulation software for carbon fibre composites has limited the wider use of it in cars. Also, the automotive industry would prefer the cycle time for epoxide resins cut to several seconds, rather than minutes.

Although stakeholder ThyssenKrupp did not attend the Berlin briefing, a statement in connection with the event noted the potential for “R&D in plastic/metal hybrid components” through Sabic’s shareholding in Inpro.

Inpro was established in 1983, when BMW and Berlin Technical University were among the founding shareholders. The company has around 100 employees today and public records show €5.9m turnover in 2010, compared with a peak level of €7.4m in 2008. 2010 turnover was made up of €4.7m for joint Inpro partner projects, €1.4m for direct contracts and €0.972m for projects supported by public funds.

At the Berlin briefing, Inpro managing director Gerd Eßer said that the accumulated value of development work performed by Inpro has amounted to €170m since the company was founded.

Eßer said that projects are now very much focused on electro-mobility and new automotive drive systems such as batteries and fuel cells.

Walz rejected a suggestion that the announcement the previous week of an exclusive development co-operation between Daimler and BASF on the Smart Forvision car could conflict with Sabic and Daimler’s involvement as Inpro shareholders.

He added: “Partner projects will only involve those things that do not mean competitive disadvantage in innovation platforms. It is more about opportunity than risk”.

Finally, Adams stressed that Sabic is widening its already wide plastics product portfolio beyond its traditional engineering thermoplastics and polyolefin materials. The company is now looking at new acrylic, carbon fibre composite and elastomeric materials.

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PLASTICS: SABIC Buys into Germany's Inpro

From Europe this morning comes news that Saudi Arabia-based SABIC has agreed to become a stakeholder in German automotive technology specialist Inpro.  PRW.com reports that at a briefing held in Berlin yesterday, SABIC's v-p of automotive, Greg Adams, said an agreement should be concluded sometime in October, although a joint communication stated it would be concluded before year-end.

Both Daimler and Volkswagen are also shareholders in Impro, along with Siemens and ThyssenKrupp and the German State of Berlin.  It would appear that SABIC's involvement in the firm is aimed at development of carbon fiber composites and research into plastic/metal hybrid components.  According to PRW.com, Gunter Walz, a v-p at Mercedes-Benz that represents Daimler on the Inpro supervisory board, highlighted SABIC's involvement in automotive glazing and lightweight composite solutions.  Walz is reported to have told European Plastics News that a lack of simulation software for carbon fiber composites has limited wider use of the material in cars. 

While a representative of ThyssenKrupp did not attend the briefing, the company provided a briefing note that highlighted the potential for R&D in plastic/metal hybrid components. 

Inpro Managing Director Gerd Eßer told attendees that current projects are highly focused on electro-mobility and new automotive drive systems such as batteries and fuel cells. 

At the briefing, SABIC's Adams emphasized that his company is widening its already wide plastics product portfolio beyond its traditional engineering thermoplastics and polyolefin materials and now looking at acrylic - carbon fiber composite and elastomeric materials.

Indeed, last April SABIC, Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp., and Mitsubishi Corp. announced they had signed an agreement to form a joint venture to manufacture acrylonitrile (AN) and sodium cyanide (NaCN).  The j-v company, operating as Saudi Japanese Acrylonitrile Co., will construct manufacturing facilities at Jubail Industrial City in Saudi Arabia with each of the partners handling their respective sales and distribution.

Commenting on that project at the time, SABIC Vice Chairman and CEO Mohamed Al-Mady said, “"A key driver for the project is Saudi Arabia’s National Industrial Clusters Development Program aimed at growing and diversifying the Kingdom's manufacturing sector.”  He also noted that “AN and NaCN are very important chemicals for downstream diversification into Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), Carbon Fiber, Acrylic Fiber, Acrylamide and others which serve various industries such as automotive, construction, water treatment, oil recovery, personal care, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, electronics, gold mining and many others. “

　

ーーー

We transfer results dynamically and flexibly from research to industry.

Our goal is to research, develop and utilise advanced production systems, in particular for the automotive industry.

This allows us to provide you with a technological advantage in the key competitive factors of costs, time and quality.

INPRO Innovation company for advanced production systems in the automotive industry

INPRO Innovationsgesellschaft für fortgeschrittene Produktionssysteme in der Fahrzeugindustrie is a joint venture by the companies Siemens, ThyssenKrupp, Daimler and Volkswagen. The Federal State of Berlin has also held shares in the company since its foundation in 1983.

The primary objective is to drive innovations in production engineering forward and to transfer research results to industrial applications. Our partners in cooperation projects benefit from obtaining and building on technological advances in production. Our international clients in science and industry are therefore able to access a unique portfolio of skills and take advantage of INPRO's extensive expertise when introducing and implementing production innovations in the automotive industry.

Achieving this goal starts with the search, identification and evaluation of ideas and innovative impulses, and leads to the development of user-oriented solutions, their exemplary implementation and support right through to their deployment at partners’ or other customers' sites. The joint work of all involved parties on ideas and their implementation within the network results in an advance in knowledge, which is difficult to copy and therefore leads to sustainable competitive advantages.

INPRO project work is performed in four areas of competence

• Process simulation,
• Production systems and information processes,
• Manufacturing and automation technology and
• Layering and fastening technologies

and is supplemented by the Technology Watch Group. At this time, INPRO employs about 60 technical/scientific employees, supported by around 30 part-time employees. Practical work is carried out in INPRO's own testing facility. Turnover amounts to roughly 7 million euros.

Among our clients and partners:

• Audi
• AutoForm
• BASF
• Bosch
• Daimler
• ESI Group
• GNS
• IAV
• IWKA
• Medav
• SEAT
• Siemens
• Skoda
• ThyssenKrupp
• Volkswagen

as well as numerous partners in research and development (BAM, DKFI, Fraunhofer Institute, etc.).
　

December 24 2012 　　　

SABIC units ink deal to build Jubail plant

Two affiliates of Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) have signed initial deals to build an ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) plant in Jubail, Saudi Arabia's major industrial hub, Saudi Kayan said on Monday.

Saudi Kayan and Petrokemya will equally own and finance the project, located at Kayan's petrochemicals complex, Kayan said in a statement to the Saudi bourse, without giving a cost figure.

The plant will have production capacity of 35,000 tonnes per year and is expected to start production in the second half of 2014. UHMWPE is used in industrial applications including batteries and industrial fibres.

Kayan said in April that the plant would use ethylene from its olefins plant and in June, US firm Jacobs Engineering said it would conduct engineering and design work for the plant.

2013/5/23 AMEinfo　

SABIC opens its first engineering thermoplastics and polypropylene compounding facility in Jubail

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) has further demonstrated its national growth commitment by opening its first engineering thermoplastics compounding facility as well as a new polypropylene compounding (PPc) plant, at its manufacturing affiliate, Saudi Specialty Chemicals Company (SPECIALTY CHEM), in Jubail, Saudi Arabia.

PETROKEMYA, 99%, and SABIC Industrial Investments Company 1%
製品：Tri-Ethyl aluminum (TEAL), TPO/PP Compounds, PC Compounds, ABS Compounds, and Specialty Products

These new facilities in conjunction with initiatives like the National Industrial Cluster Development Programme (NICDP) will help create jobs and act as a catalyst, generating new opportunities in downstream industries such as building & construction, automotive, electrical, healthcare and appliances.

With the goal of enabling customers to further differentiate their products and brands from competition, these facilities will make it easier to access a diverse material offering, provide local options for custom color matching and provide the potential for shorter lead times.

As a result, SABIC customers can continue to move forward to solve the ever-changing needs and challenges in their dynamic industries.

"These new facilities allow SABIC to further enable its customers' success by providing them greater access to the diverse portfolio of unique products from SABIC's Innovative Plastics business, and helping them to deliver further differentiated solutions to the market. Both the engineering thermoplastics compounding and polypropylene investments bring SABIC closer to its customers in the Middle East, Africa, Turkey and India, enabling them to get to market faster," said Mohamed Al-Mady, SABIC Vice Chairman and CEO.

In the initial phase, the engineering thermoplastics compounding plant will produce SABIC's LEXAN, CYCOLOY, XENOY and VALOX resins. These are commonly used engineering thermoplastics spanning multiple industries from consumer electronics to healthcare, from transportation to building and construction.

The PPc plant will produce glass, chalk and talc filled grades that will strengthen SABIC's global footprint and serve customers in auto and non-auto sectors.

August 6th, 2013 albawaba.com 

American Firm to own 25% of Giant Saudi Phosphate Joint Venture

US-based Mosaic, a top producer of phosphate and potash, will own 25 per cent of a new phosphate production joint venture in Saudi Arabia with Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma'aden) and Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic).

The companies, which signed the shareholders’ agreement recently, have been working toward the agreement since a Heads of Agreement was signed in March.

Ma'aden, Mosaic and Sabic will own 60, 25 and 15 percent of the joint venture, respectively, a statement said.

• Mosaic is the world’s largest combined producer of potash and phosphates, two vital plant nutrients The world needs us: population is growing fast, and farmland is not. That means farmers have to generate more food from every acre, and our crop nutrients are essential to their quest.
• We have 8,400 people working to serve agricultural customers in approximately 40 countries around the world.
• Our largest centers of operation are in Central Florida, where we mine and process phosphates, and in Saskatchewan, where we produce potash. Our headquarters are in Plymouth, Minnesota.
• We’re investing billions of dollars to expand our mining and production capacities.
• We’ve been a publicly traded company since 2004, and today we are in the top 250 companies in the Fortune 500.
• We’re responsible corporate citizens. We keep our promises from mine to market.

The estimated $7 billion greenfield project, to be known as Wa'ad Al Shamal, or Northern Promise, Phosphate Project, will be built in the northern region of Saudi Arabia at Wa'ad Al-Shammal Minerals Industrial City, and in Ras Al Khair Minerals Industrial City which is located on the east coast of Saudi Arabia.

The highly cost-efficient project is expected to have a production capacity of 3.5 million tonnes of finished phosphate per year. Operations are expected to commence in late 2016.

Under the terms of the agreement, Mosaic will contribute expertise to the design, construction and operations of the new facilities and acquire a 25 per cent ownership stake.

In connection with its equity share, Mosaic will market approximately 25 per cent of the joint venture's product, including phosphate fertilizer and animal feed. Subject to final financing terms, Mosaic's cash investment is expected to be up to $1 billion, funded over a four-year period beginning in 2013.

The plant will produce about 3 million tonness of fertiliser products, as well as 440,000 tonnes of downstream products including purified phosphoric acid used in food industries, sodium tripolyphosphate used in detergent manufacturing, and dicalcium phosphate & monocalcium phosphate used in producing animal feed, according to a report in Arab News.

"We are pleased with the progress on our joint venture with Ma'aden and Sabic," said Mosaic president and chief executive officer Jim Prokopanko.

"This cost-effective project will allow Mosaic to extend our ability to serve key growing agricultural markets. Our growing global reach further enables us to fulfill Mosaic's mission, to help the world grow the food it needs, while delivering compelling shareholder value

2013/8/21 ameinfo.com

World's largest CO2 purification and liquefaction plant to be built at SABIC affiliate, UNITED

The United Jubail Petrochemical Company (UNITED), a manufacturing affiliate of the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), has awarded the Engineering, Procurement and Construction contract for its Carbon Dioxide Utilization Project to Germany's The Linde Group to build the world's largest CO2 purification and liquefaction plant.
The plant will be designed to compress and purify about 1,500 tons per day of raw carbon dioxide coming from ethylene glycol plants.

The purified gaseous CO2 will be supplied through pipes to three SABIC-affiliated companies for enhanced methanol and urea production.

Methanol is a basic commodity for the chemical industry, and urea is used for fertilizer production. An estimated 500,000 tons of CO2 emissions will be saved each year.

Yousef Al-Zamel, SABIC Executive Vice President, Chemicals Strategic Business Unit, said, "The project will contribute significantly to SABIC's growth strategy. It will add to SABIC's business portfolio of industrial gas products. This is the first of many other similar projects to be executed next year."

The plant will also be capable of producing 200 tons per day of liquid CO2 with food grade quality which will be stored and thereafter supplied by truck to the beverage and food industry. It is the first carbon capture and utilization (CCU) project to be realized in Saudi Arabia. The reduction of CO2 emissions is an important aim in SABIC's sustainability strategy.
　

Jubail United Petrochemical Company

LOCATION	Al-Jubail
PARTNERSHIP	SABIC (75%), Pension Fund (15%), General Organization of Social Insurance (10%)
DATE ESTABLISHED
ON-STREAM DATE
FEEDSTOCKS	Ethane
記事	設立
PRODUCTS 　　能力：千トン	Ethylene 　　1,000 linear alpha olefins 150 HDPE 400 EG 575+625 50% ownership in a 800,000 mt/y HDPE/LDPE of PETROKEMYA

　

参考

2008/8/25 三井化学　CO2からのメタノール合成プロセスの実証パイロット設備建設について

November 7, 2013  arabnews

Saudi Kayan drops plans to build new petchem plant

Saudi Kayan has dropped plans to build an ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) plant in Jubail, one of Saudi Arabia’s major industrial hubs, it said.
In 2012, Kayan and Petrokemya, both affiliates of Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC), signed a memorandum of understanding to equally own and finance the project, located at Kayan’s petrochemicals complex.

Kayan said in a statement on the Saudi bourse that preliminary results of an economic feasibility study were not in line with the company’s growth plans.
It did not say if the decision was taken jointly with Petrokemya.

In its 2012 announcement, Kayan said the plant would have production capacity of 35,000 tons per year and start production in the second half of 2014. No financial estimates were given.

UHMWPE is used in industrial applications including batteries and industrial fibers.
　

SABIC reaffirms commitment to India and innovation; HH Prince Saud inaugurates a major new technology center in Bengaluru

----

Dec 02 2013

SABIC reaffirms commitment to China and innovation; inaugurates a major new technology center in Shanghai

May 15, 2014 SABIC

SABIC, Lockheed Martin to partner on carbon nanostructure materials

Saudi’s SABIC Says Won’t Expand Petrochemicals Venture With Shell

SABIC and Shell first announced plans to explore an expansion of their petrochemical plant in 2012.

Saudi Basic Industries Corp will not move ahead with plans to expand an existing petrochemical joint venture (SADAF) with Royal Dutch Shell in Saudi Arabia as the results of feasibility studies were not encouraging, SABIC said on Thursday (2014/10/23) , according to state news agency SPA.

The two partners in the SADAF joint venture in Jubail, on the Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia, first announced plans to explore an expansion of their petrochemical plant in 2012.

“Shell and SABIC have agreed not to pursue this investment further but have agreed to continue to have constructive discussions to explore other opportunities for expansion,” a Shell spokesman said in a statement on Thursday.

SABIC, one of the world’s largest petrochemical groups, said the decision would not have any impact on its earnings, according to a statement on the Saudi bourse website.

The expansion was due to add polyols, propylene oxide (PO) and styrene monomer. SABIC did not say by how much the plant was due to be expanded nor gave an estimated cost.

Shell chemicals companies are among the leading suppliers of polyether polyols, with a product range and global reach unrivalled by most of our competitors. We support our high quality CARADOL* polyether polyols with professional sales staff, specialist technical services for key customers, and advice on health, safety and environment issues.

CARADOL polyether polyols are derived from propylene oxide. They are organic materials with two or more alcohol end-groups (OH) and sometimes with micrometer polymer particles present in suspension. When polyether polyols and isocyanates are reacted together they form polyurethanes.

　

イソシアネート基を持つ化合物として、
　　TDI： トリレンジイソシアネート　（2,4or2,6-Tolylene diisocyanate）
　　MDI： ジフェニルメタンジイソシアネート（4,4'or2,4'-Diphenylmethane diisocyanate）
　　HDI：ヘキサメチレンジイソシアネート（1,6-Hexamethylene diisocyanate）
などがあります。　このほかにも、多数のイソシアネート化合物があります。

　水酸基（OH）を２個以上含有する化合物はポリオールとも呼ばれ、一般的には以下の種類のものが使用されています。
　　ポリエーテルポリオール（Polyetherpolyol）
　　ポリエステルポリオール（Polyesterpolyol）
　　ポリカーボネートポリオール（Polycarbonatepolyol）
　　ポリカプロラクトンポリオール（Polycaprolactonepolyol

ポリエーテルポリオール：塩基性触媒の存在下、開始剤にエチレンオキサイドやプロピレンオキサイドを付加重合させて製造される。
開始剤には官能基数別に以下のような多価アルコールやアミンが使用される。
官能基数＝2　　　プロピレングリコール、エチレングリコール
官能基数＝3　　　グリセリン、トリメチロールプロパン、トリエタノールアミン
官能基数＝4　　　ペンタエリスリトール、エチレンジアミン、芳香族ジアミン
官能基数＝5　　　ジエチレントリアミン
官能基数＝6　　　ソルビトール
官能基数＝8　　　スクロース（蔗糖）
　

Oct 29, 2014 Reuters                           2011/3/25 　Saudi Aramco と Sinopec、サウジで製油所建設　

Major new Saudi-Sinopec refinery to export in Dec-sources    

2015/1/5　　menafn.com　　

Saudi- SABIC signs JV with Molecular Rebar Design to develop nanomaterials

SABIC and Molecular Rebar Design have signed a joint venture agreement to develop and commercialize nanomaterials for select market segments and applications.

The joint venture Black Diamond Structures LLC will develop manufacture and commercialize products based on Molecular Rebar Design's unique and revolutionary carbon nanotube (CNT) technology Molecular Rebar.

CNTs when made commercially consist of large entangled bundles of nanotubes.　These bundles are far less useful than discreet or individual nanotubes.

Molecular Rebar are discreet open ended highly functionalized CNTs that are free from catalysts and waste matter and are demonstrated to advance the science and applications for nanomaterials.

実際のCNTは、たくさんのナノチューブが束になって、まるで絡まったスパゲティのような状態で生成する。チューブの長さ、直径、らせん度がそろっていないだけでなく、ナノチューブの配向や配列もまったくのランダムということが多い。

CNTの成長や配向をある程度コントロールできないと、分子デバイスなどとして利用することは難しい。

Beginning in 1985, carbon nanotube discoveries were praised for their potential to create significant improvements in material science. In fact, CNT’s had so much theoretical potential and such broad potential application they were anointed as a generational change in materials design and performance.

Yet, until now, the promise of CNT performance never materialized. The major impediment was the inability to unbundle CNT’s and separate them into their optimum form – discrete tubes.

Even today, all other methods of manufacturing CNT’s – through arc furnaces, laser ablation, or fluid-bed reactors – result in “fuzzy balls,” which are composed of highly entangled CNT’s. These fuzzy balls hinder or prevent the dispersion of the individual CNT tubes, which is required to achieve the theoretical optimums proposed by current material-science theories.

An ideal product would also be functionalized to adhere to the receiving material and be fully dispersed to insure consistent properties and performance. As expected, the inability to optimize CNT’s resulted in commercially insignificant improvement in the properties of the receiving materials and prevented widespread commercialization of CNT’s.

　

Our patented process starts with today’s commercially available, fuzzy-ball laden, but nonperforming CNT’s. Through a set of proprietary operations, the CNT’s are separated into discrete tubes — and with aspect ratios（アスペクト比：先端直径に対して長さ） in the ideal 60-100 range. Then they are dispersed in formulations that maintain the single tube composition. The uniform mixture is then made into master batches (either solid or liquid), which can be efficiently and safely shipped to customers.

Another great advantage of our Molecular Rebar™ is that, at the customer conversion sites, it can be used with existing equipment and processes.

The patented MRD manufacturing method addresses the critical issues presented above. The breakthrough provides a continuous process that results in the production of untangled CNT’s, which we call Molecular Rebar®.

Black Diamond Structures LLC will focus on applications in select market segments including Energy Storage、Energy Generation、Automotive & Light Truck、Consumer Electronics and Construction.

Commenting on the joint venture Ernesto Occhiello SABIC executive vice president technology andinnovation said Black Diamond Structures LLC is aligned to SABIC's 2025 strategy and part of the drive to develop higher value-added specialty businesses globally and in Saudi Arabia.

'SABIC believes that nanotechnology is an important part of the future. We focus on making nanointermediates more viable for industrial implementation via improved scale-up ease/effectiveness of use and partnership with customers. We believe the new JV is well aligned with emerging market needs and thus is poised for accelerated deployment and development for both existing and new applications.'

Kurt Swogger CEO of Molecular Rebar Design said: 'We believe the synergistic combination of Molecular Rebar Design's advanced nanotechnologies with SABIC's commercial and manufacturing capabilities will lead to many exciting opportunities for innovative new materials in high growth market segments.'

May 10, 2016 Reuters　     

Saudi Aramco says to sign chemicals project MOU with SABIC

National oil giant Saudi Aramco expects soon to sign a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Basic Industries Corp for a joint oil-to-chemicals project, chief executive Amin Nasser said on Tuesday.

SABIC has previously said the proposed project could cost as much as $30 billion, processing petrochemicals directly from crude oil instead of first refining the oil into products such as naphtha.

"It makes absolute sense as Aramco is specialised in oil and refining, and SABIC in petrochemicals," said one industry source familiar with the project, adding that the scheme could create as many as 100,000 jobs directly and indirectly.

Aramco's participation could benefit SABIC by giving it better access to funding as well as assistance in marketing products, said Mazen al-Sudairi, head of research at Al-Istithmar Capital.

"The change in feedstock prices prompted SABIC to change strategy - they want to produce specialty products - and with Aramco possibly joining them as an investor, it will open a big door for them," he said.

ーーー

Reutersは10月30日、SABICのCEO Yousef Al-Benyanとのインタビューを報じた。

�B　AramcoとのOil-to-chemicals JV

SABICと Aramco は既に原油から化学製品を生産する投資額200億ドル以上のJV構想を明らかにしている。

原油やガソリン・ディーゼルの価格が石油化学品の価格よりも下がっているため、原油をガソリンにするより、原油から石油化学品を生産しようとするもので、Arabian Light やExtra Light  原油を原料とする。

日量40万バレルの原油蒸留設備や水素化などの原油処理設備とクラッカー、PE、PP、ブタジエンなどの設備を建設する。

立地としては、当初はYanbu かJubail か、Aramco/Dow JVのあるSadara かとしていた。

この計画はCOTCと呼ばれる。（Crude Oil-to-Chemicals の意味）

CEOは今回、この計画の立地が紅海沿岸のYanbuに決まったと述べた。「これは戦略的な立地だ。アフリカや欧州へのポジションを強化できる。Jubail もまだ成長のオプションを持つが、設備を一か所に集中しない方がよい」と述べた。

2017/11/3   SABIC CEOの将来構想ーーー国内石化事業効率化、海外事業、Aramcoとの石油・石化JV　

Sep 7, 2016 

Saudi's SABIC sells Polymershapes unit to U.S. firm   

Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) 2010.SE has agreed to sell its Polymershapes unit to U.S. investment firm Blackfriars Corp, SABIC said without giving a value for the deal.

The deal is expected to be completed during the fourth quarter of this year, SABIC said late on Tuesday, adding that the unit was a non-core business and its divestment would not affect SABIC's distribution of other products or have a substantial impact on its finances.

The unit is the world’s largest distributor of plastic sheet, rod, tube and film, serving over 35,000 customers with a distribution network of more than 75 branches in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Chile, according to a 2013 statement by SABIC.

Although Polymershapes is profitable, owning it is no longer in line with SABIC's plan to strengthen its business by 2025, Tuesday's statement quoted acting chief executive Yousef al-Benyan as saying.

Benyan told Reuters in May that his company was evaluating whether to sell some of its assets in the specialties plastics business, with a decision expected by the end of this year.

One of the world's largest petrochemicals firms, SABIC has been suffering like many companies in its industry from the impact of falling oil prices, which are correlated with petrochemical prices.

------------

Polymershapes is the world’s largest distributor of plastic sheet, rod, tube, film, and associated products, with 70+ years of industry-leading heritage.

Our roots stretch back to the 1940’s, when two businesses were formed, each focused on selling plastic sheet and fabricated parts. These small enterprises – Cadillac Plastics, based near Detroit, and Commercial Plastics, founded near Philadelphia – grew steadily over the ensuing decades, adding products, capabilities and services, and opening sales branches throughout North America, to become the two largest distributors in the plastics industry.

In 2000, both companies were purchased by GE Plastics, and became one, taking on the new identity of GE Polymershapes.
In 2007, GE Plastics and Polymershapes were acquired by SABIC, a leading global petrochemicals company.

Since then, the people of Polymershapes have continued to broaden our expertise, our portfolio, and our branch network, setting the standards for excellence in the plastics distribution industry.

　

2016/9/2 

SABIC, SNCG agree on possible China chemical JV principles

SABIC, along with Shenhua Ningxia Coal Industry Group Co. Ltd. (SNCG 神華寧夏煤業集団) and the government of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 寧夏回族自治区 of China, have agreed on a set of principles for cooperation in the further development of a potential joint venture (JV) between SABIC and SNCG to build a greenfield coal-to-chemicals complex.

The facility will focus on highly-differentiated applications and segments through polymers derivatives.

The project will be located in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The agreement includes certain commitments from the Ningxia government to provide support and incentives to the project, while also providing a framework for coordination and cooperation between the three parties in connection with the project approval process.

Cooperation between the parties, with respect to the coal-to-chemicals project, contributes to the Chinese government’s “Belt & Road Initiative,” expanding the economic ties and bilateral trade between Saudi Arabia and the People's Republic of China.

The project would leverage the shareholders’ respective best practices, operational experience, and technologies in the petrochemical industry.

The project would benefit from SABIC’s participation through the utilization of SABIC’s technologies, and access to SABIC’s global Technology & Innovation Centers would be provided for product development, technical support and application development programs. SABIC would also leverage its global marketing and customer service capabilities.

The project would also benefit from the participation of SNCG, which is an affiliate of Shenhua Group, one of the largest coal producers and suppliers in China, as well as a global coal-based, integrated energy and chemicals company.

A further benefit is the project’s location in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, which is one of the largest coal-producing regions in China, and the incentives and support that will be provided by the Ningxia government.

24 August 2017

SABIC, Aramco offer bids for JV to convert crude oil to chemicals

The Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) and the Saudi Arabian Oil Co (Saudi Aramco) offered bids for the engineering works of the joint venture (JV) which will exceed $20 billion to convert crude oil to chemicals, industrial sources on Thursday told Reuters.

This project is expected to process Arabian light and extra light crude oil, Reuters reported, citing one of the sources as saying.

“Several plants are expected to be built, including a 400,000-barrels-per-day integrated crude distillation 原油蒸留and vacuum unit, a distillate hydrotreater蒸留水素化, a vacuum gas oil hydrocracker, a residual fluid catalytic cracking unit, a mixed feed cracker, as well as polyethylene, polypropylene, butadiene, and aromatics recovery units,” the agency added.

The two Saudi firms are still searching for a location for their JV at Yanbu, near the power plant, or in Jubail, close to Sadara, which is an Aramco JV with US company Dow Chemical.

The deadline for engineering works and designs offers will be on 25 September, one of the sources indicated, noting that the JV's plant will be opened by the end of 2024.

“It was a priority for the company to convert crude oil to chemicals as the state oil producer aims to diversify operations in the run-up to an initial public offering (IPO) of shares next year,” Aramco’s CEO Amin H.Nasser said.

-------------

The project, known as COTC, the first major scheme to bring the two giants together, is expected to process Arabian Light and Extra Light crude oil, one of the sources told Reuters.

Several plants are expected to be built including a 400,000-barrels-per-day integrated crude distillation and vacuum unit, a distillate hydrotreater, a vacuum gas oil hydrocracker, a residual fluid catalytic cracking unit, a mixed feed cracker, as well as polyethylene, polypropylene, butadiene and aromatics recovery units.

Aramco and SABIC are still considering where to locate the chemicals site; at Yanbu, near a power plant; or in Jubail, close to Sadara, which is an Aramco joint venture with U.S. company Dow Chemical.

The closing date for bids for pre-front end engineering and design work (pre-FEED) and FEED for the COTC is Sept. 25, one of the sources said, adding that the plant is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2024.

Another source said pre-FEED is expected to be completed by late 2018, with FEED to be finalised by late 2019. Aramco and SABIC are expected to launch bidding for construction by mid-2020.

SABIC did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Aramco said it “declines to comment on rumor or speculation”.

Aramco’s chief executive has said it was a priority for the company to convert crude oil to chemicals as the state oil producer aims to diversify operations in the run-up to an initial public offering of shares next year.

Downstream, which covers refining and chemicals, will help Aramco boost value from hydrocarbons by securing revenue streams and become less vulnerable to oil price swings.

LESS GAS

Analysts say the project will help reduce natural gas usage in petrochemicals at a time when the kingdom is trying to use more gas to generate power, rather than burning crude oil, as it seeks to diversify its energy mix.

“What is new and different is that the prices of crude and gasoline/diesel have come down more than petrochemicals. This makes the incentive to produce petrochemicals greater than to make gasoline and diesel,” Mark Routt, chief economist for the Americas at KBC Advanced Technologies, said.

“It certainly could usher in a new ‘wave’ of investments in producing those petrochemicals,” he said.

The project is strategic for Saudi Arabia, which plans to expand further into the petrochemical chain to export more end products and grow beyond oil.

It is also crucial for Saudi Arabia’s economic reform plan and could create as many as 100,000 jobs.

SABIC’s CEO told Reuters in May that COTC could produce more than 18 million tonnes of materials yearly.

2018/4/6 

SABIC opens first POM plant              

SABIC inaugurated the first ever polyacetal (POM) plant in the Middle East and Africa region at its joint venture manufacturing affiliate, The National Methanol Company (Ibn Sina), in Jubail on Thursday, marking another milestone in its growth strategy in the highly competitive global engineering thermoplastics industry.

2010/4/7　SABIC、ポリアセタールに進出

The new plant, with a capacity of 50,000 metric tons, was opened in the presence of SABIC Vice Chairman and CEO Yousef Al-Benyan, SABIC executives and representatives from the joint venture partner, CTE, which is jointly owned by Celanese Corporation and Duke Energy. The new plant reflects SABIC’s 2025 strategy to provide new polymer solutions that answer customer challenges for changing market requirements, while supporting the development of local content in national industries, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh, executive vice president of petrochemicals at SABIC, commented, “The startup of the plant reflects our strategic commitment to diversify our solutions. We seek to create long-term value for our customers in a range of industries, including automotive, building and construction, consumer goods, appliances and lighting. This is how we create Chemistry that Matters.”

Marcel van Amerongen, vice president, Celanese added, “Ibn Sina is a fine example of successful collaboration between two large industrial companies by combining knowledge and a strong commitment. The new plant is expected to make a long-term contribution to the local economy and support the growth of the plastics industry.”

Polyacetal is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic material that has the potential to replace metal in many applications due to its high strength, exceptional dimensional stability and ease of machining. It makes an excellent candidate for applications in diverse industries such as automotive, construction, electronics, appliances, commodities, and consumer goods.

January 03, 2020

SABIC decides to liquidate 3 subsidiaries　　いずれもSABIC 100% 子会社の解散：事業はSABICの他の組織が引き継ぐ。

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) decided to liquidate 3 of its subsidiaries as part of its transformation plan, the company said in a bourse statement.

The liquidation decision includes SABIC Industrial Catalysts Co. and Saudi Carbon Fiber Co.

Both companies are fully owned by SABIC a paid in capital of SAR 500,000, each.

Saudi Japanese Acrylonitrile Co. in which SABIC ownership is 100%, is the third company to be dissolved. The company’s paid in capital is SAR 171.23 million. 

SABIC will continue to develop the products of these companies through other subsidiaries, and the liquidation is not expected to have any financial impact on SABIC's consolidated financial statement, the statement added.

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解散する3社についての記事：いずれも現在は SABIC 100%

SABIC Industrial Catalysts Co.：

2014/5/20

URS has contracted ARM to provide environmental support services for a new facility to be constructed by Sabic Catalyst Company (SABCAT) in Jubail Industrial City, KSA.  The facility will initially produce 50 tons per year of the Ziegler-Natta type catalyst to be used in processes for the production of polyethylene and polypropylene.  The facility includes the production reactors and associated utilities.

Saudi Carbon Fiber Co.：

SABICは2011年6月15日、イタリアのMontefibreとの間でカーボンファイバーの技術導入契約を締結したと発表した。

SABIC及び全世界の子会社で技術を使用できるが、まず、サウジに建設するカーボンファイバー工場に適用する。

両社はまた、Montefibreのスペインの既存のアクリル繊維製造工場に隣接して、新しくカーボンファイバー工場を建設するFSを実施する覚書も締結した。これによりサウジプラントの製品開発を早め、需要家に先行販売を行うもの。

サウジの計画は能力は年産3,000トンで、中東及び国際市場での販売を目指す。

2011/6/17　SABIC、カーボンファイバーの技術導入

Saudi Japanese Acrylonitrile Co.：

旭化成は2011年4月27日、サウジにおけるアクリロニトリル（AN）の共同事業化の詳細検討を行うため、SABIC及び三菱商事と、合弁会社の設立を決定したと発表した。

合弁会社概要は以下の通り。

(1)	会社名	：	(仮称) Saudi Japanese Acrylonitrile Company
(2)	本社	：	サウジアラビア王国アルジュベール市
(3)	株主	：	SABIC 50%、旭化成ケミカルズ・三菱商事 50%
(4)	設立資本金	：	40百万サウジリヤル（約10億円）
(5)	計画生産能力	：	プロピレン法AN 20万トン/年、青化ソーダ 4万トン/年

2011/4/28 　旭化成、サウジでのアクリロニトリル事業化のため合弁会社設立　

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2013/11/1
Sabic signed joint venture for Jubail Acrylonitrile Project

After years of technical and commercial studies, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic), and its Japanese partners, Mitsubishi Corporation (Mitsubishi) and Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation (Asahi) signed a joint venture to build the first acrylonitrile and sodium cyanide plant in the Middle-East.

In this purpose, Sabic, Mitsubishi and Asahi estblished in April 2011 the joint venture Saudi Japanese Acrylonitrile Company (SHROUQ) in Saudi Arabia.

In order to benefit from existing infrastructures, the joint venture partners selected Sabic site at Al-Jubail Industrial City in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia to erect this first Acrylonitrile project.

The Japanese companies Asahi and Mitsubishi selected Saudi Arabia to build this new facility as they are willing tyo capture most of the growing demand for Acrylonitrile in the Middle-East and Africa markets.

After the completion of this new acrylonitrile plant, Asahi will reach 1.4 million tonnes per year (t/y), thus taking the global leadership of this market.

In addition, the joint venture with Sabic will secure competitive feedstock and energy cost to ensure the profitability of the Jubail Acrylonitrile project.

From Sabic perspective, this project meets fully its strategic goal for growth in wideing its petrochemical portfolio and especially with high added value polymers.
Considering that acrylonitrile is part of the buildings blocks to produce Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), one of the most common technical plastic used in the automotive, consumers goods and all industrial applications.
Regarding the sodium cyanide, most of the applications rely on the metal mining, especially gold mining.

From the technical and commercial studies, Sabic, Asahi and Mitsubishi have sized the Jubail Acyrlonitrile and Sodium Cyanide Project to:
 – 200,000 t/y of acrylonitrile
 – 40,000 t/y of sodium cyanide

In 2012, Sabic, Asahi and Mitsubishi selected the South Korean engineering company Daelim Industrial (Daelim) to perform the front end engineering and design (FEED) for the Jubail Acrylonitrile project.
Then Daelim completed the FEED work for the project opening the way to Sabic and its partners to move the project forward.

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2015/8/8

Sabic Postpones Acrylonitrile Plant

Because of escalating costs, Sabic has postponed to build a world-scale acrylonitrile complex at Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia.

In May 2011, SABIC, the japanese Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp., and Mitsubishi Corp signed a strategic joint venture agreement to form a limited liability company, Saudi Japanese Acrylonitrile Company (Shrouq; sunrise in Arabic). The facility was to produce 200,000 m.t./year of acrylonitrile and 40,000 m.t./year of sodium cyanide.

日本の2社がいつ抜けたのか、不明。

2020/1/20　

SABIC outlines intentions for TruCircle™ to close loop on plastic recycling

2021/3/24   SABIC      

SABIC forms collaboration to realize the world’s first electrically heated steam cracker furnace

2022/2/6　　　　　　　　　　　

Sabic buys Swiss Group Clariant’s 50% share in JV

10 Mar 2022　

China approves JV between SABIC and local petrochemical group 

China on Thursday approved the establishment of a joint venture between Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) and China's Fujian Petrochemical Industrial Group (FJPEC), according to a Chinese government-run platform.

The launch of the joint venture follows a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between SABIC and the Fujian provincial government in 2018 and a more detailed contract in 2021 to build a petrochemical complex.

The new firm is set to invest 40 billion yuan ($6.33 billion) to build a 1.5 million tonne per annum ethylene production complex at the Gulei Petrochemical base in the costal Fujian province.

There are plans for the complex to include a series of downstream production units, including an ethylene glycol (MEG) unit, two sets of polyethylene (PE) units, two polypropylene (PP) units and a polycarbonate unit.

Registration capital of the joint venture is 13.2 billion yuan, according to the government platform. 

2022/11/24  

Saudi's SABIC and Aramco plan to start project to convert crude into petrochemicals

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) and Saudi Aramco are planning to start a joint project to convert crude into petrochemicals in Ras Al Khair, 
the kingdom's energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said on Wednesday (Nov 23).

The project, the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia, will be completed in coming years and have a capacity of 400,000 barrels of crude per day, he added.

During an event to open a SABIC building in Al Jubail, the prince also said Saudi Arabia plans to open a new port in the industrial city of Ras Al Khair to export petrochemicals.

Dec 02, 2022　

Sabic, Saudi Aramco and Poland’s PKN Orlen sign pact to explore joint investment

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) and the kingdom's oil major Saudi Aramco have signed an initial agreement with Poland's refining company PKN Orlen to explore the potential of joint investments 
in petrochemical projects in Poland and markets in central and eastern Europe.

The three companies have agreed to study and collaborate on opportunities including a new chemical production unit in Poland and the expansion of several existing assets, Sabic said in a statement on its website on Thursday.

The companies will also study the development of a new cracker — a unit which converts convert crude oil into petrochemical feedstock — in Poland, it said.

If the parties agree to invest in the petrochemical project, they will enter into a separate project joint development agreement, Sabic said.

“By bringing together the scale, expertise and technologies of three world-leading companies, this MoU enables us to identify and assess opportunities for ambitious and sustainable growth,” Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh, 
Sabic's executive vice president for petrochemicals, said.

Saudi Arabia's petrochemicals and energy companies are increasingly exploring investment opportunities beyond the kingdom's borders and looking to form joint ventures and partnerships 
as they seek to expand their operations globally.

Sabic's majority owner Aramco earlier this week completed three transactions with PKN Orlen, Poland's top refiner and fuel retailer. 

Aramco acquired a 30 per cent stake in PKN Orlen’s 210,000 barrels-per-day refinery in Gdansk, a 100 per cent stake in its associated wholesale business 
and a 50 per cent stake in a plane fuel marketing joint venture with BP Europa that operates in seven airports in Poland.

Opec's top crude exporter Saudi Aramco, which owns a 70 per cent stake in Sabic, has been investing billions of dollars in downstream projects to extract more value from its crude oil output.

PKN Orlen is Poland’s top energy group and specialises in the manufacturing, distribution, wholesale and retailing of refined petrochemical products. It operates several refineries in Poland, Lithuania and the Czech Republic.

Sabic, the Middle East's biggest petrochemicals producer, last month said it is planning to set up a plant to convert crude oil into petrochemicals, capitalising on growing demand.

The crude-to-chemicals complex in Ras Al Khair, in the east of Saudi Arabia, is expected to convert 400,000 barrels per day of oil into chemicals.

The petrochemicals industry is expected to be a major driver of crude oil demand in the next few decades as consumers increasingly switch to electric vehicles. Globally, the sector is projected to be worth roughly 
$800 billion by 2030, up from about $475 billion in 2020, according to Precedence Research.

Petrochemicals are set to account for more than a third of the growth in oil demand to 2030, and nearly half to 2050, ahead of lorries, aviation and shipping, according to the International Energy Agency.