The successful start-up of the first Solution Polyethylene facility in the Middle East by Sadara Chemical Company (Sadara) is expected to set new paradigms in both Saudi Arabia’s and the region’s downstream industry.

The Sadara chemical complex, which is now being built in Jubail Industrial City II, is currently more than 97 per cent complete. Following the launch of its first product, Linear Low Density Polyethylene, Sadara is continuing with its commissioning and start-up efforts to bring the remaining 25 units on stream safely and efficiently.

Fourteen of the 26 world scale manufacturing units in the Sadara Complex will deliver products completely new to the kingdom.

The company, which participated in the GPCA PlastiCon 2016 under the theme ‘Evolving GCC Plastic Conversion: Technology meets Business’, showcased how its differentiated suite of performance chemicals and plastics products will add value and how the adjacent PlasChem Park will support Saudi’s downstream manufacturing growth and economic diversification.

"Sadara’s product slate fills a significant gap in the regional chemical industry, where only 0.3 per cent of the chemicals produced are considered specialty chemicals. Commodity products form the vast majority of the kingdom’s annual chemical and petrochemical production capacity. Using the state-of-the-art technologies that we have, and the know-how our employees have gained in both Saudi Aramco and Dow facilities around the world, Sadara will begin filling that gap," said Mohammad Alazzaz, director, Value Park Department at Sadara, during his presentation at the PlastiCon conference.