SABIC to Build 700,000 Metric Tons Ethylene Glycol Plant

SABIC to Build 700,000 Metric Tons Ethylene Glycol Plant
TT
20

SABIC to Build 700,000 Metric Tons Ethylene Glycol Plant

SABIC to Build 700,000 Metric Tons Ethylene Glycol Plant

The Saudi Basic Industries Corps, SABIC, announced that Saudi Arabia-based Jubail United Petrochemical Co. has signed a joint venture agreement with the South Korean firm Samsung Engineering for the engineering, procurement, and construction services for the third ethylene glycol plant.

The plant will produce 700,000 million tonnes per year of mono-ethylene glycol. The project will be executed in Jubail Industrial City located in the east of Saudi Arabia, and construction is expected to be completed in 2020.

"Due to the continued expansion of its subsidiaries, SABIC has become the largest producer of ethylene glycol in the world, and with the added capacity of the new complex plant, we strive to expand our production capacity," said Abdul Rahman al-Faqih, SABIC's Executive Vice President of Petrochemicals.

He said that SABIC also seeks maintaining this position and supporting its record of achievements in the level of service and customer satisfaction, pointing out that the new plant uses innovative technologies to reduce emissions and increase energy efficiency.

He pointed out that the plant will implement advanced manufacturing procedures developed by the Scientific Design, one of SABIC’s joint ventures. This company has also developed some of the important and modern techniques and catalysts in the petrochemical industry.

Notably, SABIC's ethylene glycol production meets growing global demand in key sectors such as polyester fibers and polyethylene trifates.

Part of the production of ethylene glycol is used within the company as raw material for the manufacture of products such as polyester.

It is also used as an important industrial solvent and in the manufacture of polystyrene, plasticizers and unsaturated resins.

It can also be used as a softener to make adhesives materials more flexible, and it is an important component in the composition of brake fluid, pastes and dyes.



Saudi Arabia Calls for Global Water Cooperation to Advance Integrated Management

The first preparatory meeting for the 11th World Water Forum 2027 kicked off in Riyadh on Monday. (11th World Water Forum 2027 | Riyadh 2027 on X)
The first preparatory meeting for the 11th World Water Forum 2027 kicked off in Riyadh on Monday. (11th World Water Forum 2027 | Riyadh 2027 on X)
TT
20

Saudi Arabia Calls for Global Water Cooperation to Advance Integrated Management

The first preparatory meeting for the 11th World Water Forum 2027 kicked off in Riyadh on Monday. (11th World Water Forum 2027 | Riyadh 2027 on X)
The first preparatory meeting for the 11th World Water Forum 2027 kicked off in Riyadh on Monday. (11th World Water Forum 2027 | Riyadh 2027 on X)

The first preparatory meeting for the 11th World Water Forum 2027 kicked off in Riyadh on Monday with the participation of top scientists, experts, decision-makers from around the world.

Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Alfadley, with the participation of World Water Council President Loïc Fauchon, inaugurated the official logo of the World Water Forum 2027.

In his remarks, Alfadley emphasized Saudi Arabia’s call for strengthened international cooperation and joint efforts among countries and organizations to tackle global water challenges. He underscored the importance of ensuring universal access to water and sanitation services as a key pillar in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6).

“Saudi Arabia prioritizes the water sector through various measures, including the adoption of a national strategy encompassing water production, storage, transportation, distribution, treatment, and reuse, all within a comprehensive institutional framework,” Alfadley added.

He further stated that the Kingdom has implemented Integrated Water Resources Management and enhanced supply chain governance. This is supported by the release of a long-term supply and demand plan that extends to 2050, alongside a commitment to environmental, social, and economic considerations in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.

Highlighting the Kingdom's leading role in supporting regional and international water issues, Alfadley pointed to the launching of the Global Water Organization, aimed at fostering international collaboration, and the establishment of an International Water Research Center focused on water economics, water security, advanced technologies, and digital transformation.

Fauchon said the council, in collaboration with Saudi authorities, has developed a comprehensive framework outlining the thematic, regional, and political components that will shape the roadmap for the 11th edition of the forum that is being held in the Middle East for the first time.

He stressed the need to make water a top global priority, adding that this gathering will lay the foundation for future water policies. “The way ahead is still long, but we are confident we’re on the right path toward real solutions—solutions that can change lives,” he said.

Deputy Minister for Water at the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture Dr. Abdulaziz Alshaibani underscored the urgency of the current moment, describing the preparatory meeting as a call for serious and immediate action. Alshaibani emphasized the need to build upon existing progress in the water sector and to move decisively towards solidifying priorities.

He stressed the importance of greater coherence and integration across all sectors, along with the unification of all efforts, to achieve tangible solutions to global water challenges and to meet SDG 6. Alshaibani further noted that effective solutions must be anchored in several key pillars, including financing, innovation, diplomacy, and environmental considerations.

The World Water Forum 2027, organized by the World Water Council in Saudi Arabia, is a significant international platform for exchanging ideas and experiences in water management.