Sadara celebrates commissioning of all 26 plants

Sadara Chemical Company (Sadara), a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and the Dow Chemical Company, recently 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 Chairman of Sadara and Saudi Aramco Senior Vice President of Technical Services at the Sadara complex in Jubail Industrial City II Ahmad Saadi.

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).

Sadara has been bringing its chemical plants on-stream in a carefully planned sequence and will produce more than three million tons of high-value performance plastics and specialty chemical products annually.

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.”

He added: “Sadara’s slate of high-value chemicals, including many firsts for the Kingdom and the region, will create the quality performance, value-added and plastics products that support a higher living standard around the world, especially in the emerging Asia Pacific and Middle Eastern markets that will drive two-thirds of global petrochemical demand over the next decade.”

Liveris said: “Commissioning of Sadara’s final plant marks a pivotal moment in the history of this landmark public and private partnership that advances Dow’s growth strategy and will help transform the Kingdom’s rich resources into solutions for the world through a thriving manufacturing sector.”

Saudi Aramco President and CEO Amin H. Nasser called Sadara a major milestone in Saudi Aramco’s strategic intent to become the world’s foremost integrated energy and chemicals company.