(3 August 2014)—Sipchem announced the startup of the ethylene vinyl acetate and low-density polyethylene plant owned by International Polymers Company (one of Sipchem affiliates) in Jubail Industrial City. The plant will produce 200 thousand mtpa of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE).
On this occasion, Ahmad A. Al-Ohali Sipchem CEO and chairman of the International Polymers Company, stated that the startup of the plant will continue until the completion of testing all production units to ensure efficiency. Commercial operations will be announced soon.
He added that the EVA plant is considered the first of its kind in the Middle East. The plant’s polymers are a very important raw material for variety of downstream and finished advanced industries. The EVA is used as feedstock to produce heat soluble adhesives resin products and high-quality sports bandages; the low LDPE is used as a feedstock in the production of various types of containers, bottles and medical detergents.
Sipchem’s strategy is to increase added value to its products throughout executing downstream integrated projects with the current existing products in order to meet domestic and international market demands.
The total cost of the project is about 3 billion Saudi riyals. Sipchem owns 75 percent of the capital share of the International Polymers Company (IPC) while Hanwha Chemical Korean Company owns 25 percent.