New Delhi — Sadara, the joint-venture between Dow and Saudi Aramco, is likely to start isocyanate and polyols production by the third quarter of 2017, John Penrice commercial director for PU EMEA at Dow Chemical said today.
Penrice, talking exclusively to UTECH-polyurethane.com, said that the planned phased start-up of the Sadara site is underway. The polyethylene train is running, he said.
The current step is starting up the plant’s liquid products, he added. These include ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, propylene glycol, polyols, MDI and TDI. He added that all the components are contingent on each other.
Dow’s Sadara joint venture in Saudi Arabia which was originally scheduled to start production of polyols in 2016 and isocyanates in 2017.
He confirmed the plant will produce 400 kT/year of MDI 200 kT/year of TDI and 400 kT/year of polyols, which is approximately equivalent to one year's market growth in polyurethane.
Penrice added that there are currently shortages in many of these materials and that with the extra demand “I don't think that will make the market long."
He added that there are opportunities available on the adjacent value park, which will have direct over-the-fence connections to the products from Sadara, and added that these could suit a company which wants to be a “local supplier to the local market.”
Penrice was talking on the side lines of the PU tech India 2017 held here between the 8-10 March 2017.
