Sadara Chemical Co. (Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; www.sadara.com) started up its mixed-feed cracker (MFC) on August 28, 2016. The MFC is the only one of its kind in Saudi Arabia and will allow Sadara to produce a diversified range of plastics and chemical products.
The MFC is made up of 12 furnaces; of these, seven will be used to crack ethane (gas), while the remaining five will be used to crack naphtha (liquid). Three of the five liquid furnaces are designed so that they can switch between gas and liquid feedstock.
The MFC is one of 26 manufacturing units located in the $20 billion Sadara chemical complex in Jubail Industrial City II. Of these units, 14 will deliver products that are completely new to being produced in Saudi Arabia.
In addition to supplying international markets, Sadara’s products will be utilized for downstream applications by investors located in the adjacent PlasChem Park, a collaborative effort between Sadara and the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu. Located adjacent to the Sadara chemical complex, PlasChem Park offers the advantages of the strong industrial and regulatory infrastructure in Jubail, secure feedstock, proximity to growing and emerging markets, and a qualified local workforce.