(Arabian Oil and Gas) -- Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) and affiliates of ExxonMobil Chemical have confirmed that Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) contracts have been awarded for a proposed new elastomers project at their Al-Jubail Petrochemical Company (KEMYA) joint venture petrochemical plant.
FEED contracts were awarded to Jacobs Engineering and Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding for process units and to Fluor Transworld Services for associated support facilities.
"This elastomers project will be the basis for the creation of a world-class rubber value chain in Saudi Arabia and a valuable extension of our offering of products and services to our customers in key markets," said Koos van Haasteren, SABIC executive vice president, Performance Chemicals.
The project is expected to establish a domestic supply of more than 400 KT of rubber[butyl, styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), butadiene rubber (BR) and EPDM], thermoplastic specialty polymers and carbon black to serve emerging local and international markets in Asia and the Middle East. The project also includes the establishment of a vocational training center and product application development and support center, aligned with Saudi Arabia's National Industrial Clusters Development Program to grow and diversify the manufacturing sector in Saudi Arabia.