World’s largest butanol plant goes on stream in Saudi Arabia

Sadara Basic Services Company, which is 100 percent indirectly owned by Sadara Chemical Company, said it launched on Sunday commercial production at Saudi Butanol Company (SABUCO).

SABUCO has successfully tested its equipment and production efficiency, Sadara said in a statement to the Saudi bourse.

The plant has a capacity of 330,000 metric tons per year of various butanol products, which are used to make paint and coating materials.

SABUCO, which is considered to be the largest butanol facility in the world, is a joint venture established by Sadara, Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Company, and Saudi Acrylic Acid Company (SAAC) in 2013.

Saudi Kayan is an affiliate of Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC). Sadara is a joint venture between state oil company Saudi Aramco and Dow Chemical Co. SAAC is owned by Sahara Petrochemical Co. and National Industrialization Co. (Tasnee).

The butanol plant is located at Tasnee’s petrochemical complex in Jubail Industrial City.