Sadara: a flagship chemicals project

Sadara Chemical Company (Sadara), a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and The Dow Chemical Company, celebrated the commissioning of the last of its 26 plants – an isocyanates section currently producing crude quantities of toluene di isocyanate (TDI) and other specialty chemicals.

The landmark commissioning milestone was celebrated in the presence of Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources and Saudi Aramco chairman, Khalid A Al Falih; Dow chairman and CEO Andrew Liveris; and Ahmad Saadi, chairman of Sadara and Saudi Aramco senior vice president of technical services, at the Sadara complex in Jubail Industrial City II.

A first for the Gulf region, the TDI section is mainly used in the production of flexible polyurethane foam for furniture, mattresses, cushioning and car seats. TDI also has a variety of industrial uses, such as coatings, adhesives, sealants, specialty foams and other products. The TDI section consists of three integrated units producing di nitro toluene (DNT), toluene di amine (TDA), and toluene di isocyanate (TDI). The DNT and TDA units started operations in April, and the TDI unit began crude production last month. The PMDI Plant began producing commercial quantities in early June.

Additionally, Sadara is producing another important polyurethane precursor – polyether polyols. The company’s polyols plant came on-stream in late July, the company said.

The world’s largest integrated chemicals complex ever built in a single phase, and established by the largest foreign direct investment in the Saudi petrochemicals industry, Sadara has been bringing its chemical plants on-stream in a carefully planned sequence and will produce more than three million tonnes of high-value performance plastics and specialty chemical products annually. 

Sadara’s mixed feed cracker, the heart of Sadara’s operations, started up in August 2016, cracking ethane gas and naphtha liquid feedstock to produce chemicals for the site’s other facilities. Sadara’s four polyethylene production units came on-line between late 2015 and early 2017.

Thirty-two polyethylene products have been qualified to-date, serving more than 600 customers in 70 countries. An additional four new polyethylene products will be added to Sadara’s capabilities by year-end.

Sadara’s specialty chemicals portfolio includes facilities that manufacture propylene oxide, propylene glycol, ethylene oxide, glycol ethers, amines, isocyanates and polyether polyols.

Al Falih said: “Sadara’s commissioning positions the company to fully deliver its promise as a major catalyst for Saudi Arabia’s economic future – a promise that will be felt in human terms.