Celanese Corp. (Dallas, Tex.; www.celanese.com) announced an update with respect to the Ibn Sina joint venture and its construction of a 50,000 metric ton (m.t.) polyacetal manufacturing facility in Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia.
Celanese has confirmed that the facility is in the testing phase in preparation for commercial production expected in the third quarter of 2017. Upon successful startup of the polyacetal facility, Celanese’s economic interest in Ibn Sina will increase from 25 to a total of 32.5%, providing further financial benefits for Celanese.
Ibn Sina is a joint venture between SABIC and CTE, a company jointly owned by subsidiaries of Celanese and Duke Energy. Celanese, SABIC and Duke Energy entered into the Ibn Sina joint venture in 1981. Construction of the polyacetal facility is part of an extension of the Ibn Sina joint venture, which will run through the year 2032. Subsidiaries of Celanese and Duke Energy each currently hold a 25% interest in the venture, with the remaining 50 percent held by SABIC.
The polyacetal facility will utilize methanol as feedstock which is produced internally at Ibn Sina. Polyacetal is a differentiated, high value-added product mainly used in automobile and electronics industries in addition to mechanical and construction manufacturers and other industrial applications.