Sahara says butanol plant to come on-stream in Q3

Sahara Petrochemicals Company said that work on its butanol plant is on track and that it should come on stream during third quarter.

The trial start-up will last between three to six months subject to the performance test and efficiency of production in accordance to the technology licenser and EPC contractor.

It is too early to expect financial impact of the project on the company’s revenue,

the company said in a statement to Tadawul on Wednesday.

The project, estimated to cost around SAR 2 billion riyals, has a production capacity of 330,000 ton per year of n-butanol and 11,000 tons per year of iso-butanol. It was initially expected to go on-stream in first quarter of ​this fiscal year after it was first announced in 2012.

The plant is owned by a group consisting of Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co, Sadara Chemical Co (a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and The Dow Chemical Co), and Saudi Acrylic Acid Co (SAAC). 

SAAC is an affiliate of Tasnee and Sahara Petrochemical Co.