Al-Waha Starts up New Propane Dehydrogenation Unit and Largest Spherizone Polypropylene Plant

10-29-2009: Al-Waha Petrochemical Company has successfully started up its new complex in Al-Jubail Industrial City which includes a 450 KT per year polypropylene plant based on LyondellBasell’s Spherizone process technology. Al-Waha was formed in 2006 and is a joint venture between Sahara Petrochemicals Company (75%) and LyondellBasell (25%).

“By joining forces, we have developed a world-class complex with integrated Middle East-advantaged production costs and a highly competitive mix of polypropylene products in close proximity to our target markets of KSA, Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East,” said Omar Bahobail, president of Al-Waha. “With LyondellBasell’s advanced polypropylene technology and its global marketing capabilities, this joint venture will maintain a robust and profitable operation in an increasingly challenging industry.”

Al-Waha’s Spherizone polypropylene plant will supply customers with products exhibiting a range of properties and performance attributes unmatched in the industry.

“Our joint venture brings global benchmark LyondellBasell polypropylene grades to our target markets offering significant performance advantages,” explained Mitchell Killeen, Divisional vice president of LyondellBasell polypropylene and polyethylene business for Africa, Middle East and Indian sub-continent. “Spherizone process resins will enable our customers to access new applications and markets with products that deliver superior value.” Applications to be targeted include tapes to produce woven fabrics, injection molded products, and film. At a later stage, Al-Waha will also supply grades used in fiber and nonwoven applications, and a wide range of random copolymers used in consumer and packaging applications. Pipe producers also will benefit from industry-leading Spherizone polypropylene resins used in high-performance pipe applications.

Al-Waha’s polypropylene resins will be marketed globally by LyondellBasell, including a firm commitment to the Middle East market for value added products. This joint venture enables the global polyolefins leader to supply heterophasic and random copolymers to the Middle East from local assets for the first time.

“Al-Waha ‘s Middle East production assets, coupled with LyondellBasell’s existing marketing network in United Arab Emirates, Egypt, India and North Africa, demonstrate our commitment to growth in the Middle East and Asia as well as Europe,” said Killeen.