SIPCHEM ANNOUNCES ETHYL ACETATE PLANT START UP

Saudi International Petrochemical Company (Sipchem) announces the start-up of ethyl acetate (EA) & butyl acetate (BA) plant owned by Sipchem Chemicals Company (fully owned by Sipchem) at its complex in Jubail Industrial City on Friday 30/06/1434H corresponding to 10/05/2013. Engineer Abdullah A. Al-Saadoon, President Sipchem Operations, said.

 Engineer Al-Saadoon also has praised all Sipchem employees and contractors efforts to achieve such successful project completion, pointing out that plant capacity is 100 KTPA of ethyl acetate and butyl acetate.

 EA & BA products are in line with Sipchem strategies to implement downstream projects that are integrated with Sipchem current products to satisfy local needs and in addition to meet international demand Al-Saadoon added.
Raw materials required for EA production is Actic Acid (AA) which will be provided by International Acetyl Company (IAC), a Sipchem affiliate, and the other raw material is Ethanol which will be imported from global markets.

 Ethyl Acetate (EA) is used as a solvent in inks, industrial liquids and pallets used in plants etc. The financial impact will take effect with the commercial operations of the plant, which is expected during the month of August 2013, upon completion of the plant reliability tests.

 The company will announce commercial operation or any other developments at a later date.
 

It`s worth noting that Sipchem has announced signing of EA technology license on 04/08/2010 with Rhodia Company of France, and awarding EPC (LSTK) to eTEC Engineering & Construction Company of Korea on 09/01/2011.