Operations at 455,000 tpa Al-Jubail based PP complex set underway

06-Nov-08

Advanced Polypropylene Company (APPC), a Saudi Arabian joint stock company, and Lummus Technology, a CB&I company, recently announced the commissioning of a polypropylene complex in Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia. The plant, which has a capacity of 455,000 tpa is currently operating above the nameplate capacity. CB&I served as the PMC contractor on this fast-track project, which was completed in 32 months from EPC award to mechanical completion. The new plant employs patented CATOFIN® dehydrogenation technology that employs SA 1/4d-Chemie's latest CATOFIN catalyst to efficiently convert propane to propylene and the Novolen® advanced gas-phase polypropylene technology, licensed by Lummus Novolen Technology. The Novolen unit at APPC has been designed for the production of both standard and specialty applications to enable APPC to serve both local and export markets. APPC is a joint stock company for the purpose of developing an integrated propane dehydrogenation and polypropylene complex in Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia. The two main shareholders of APPC are National Polypropylene Co. and the Islamic Development Bank. CB&I combines proven process technology with global capabilities in engineering, procurement and construction to deliver comprehensive solutions to customers in the energy and natural resource industries.