Project Management and Development Company Ltd. (PMD) has selected Basell technologies for two new polyethylene plants it intends to build in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Hostalen technology will be used in a high density PE plant with an annual capacity of 400 KT and Lupotech G technology will be used in a medium density/high density PE plant with an annual capacity of 300 KT.

Earlier this year, PMD selected Basell’s Spheripol process for two new PP plants with a total annual capacity of 640 KT and Basell’s Lupotech T technology for a new LDPE and EVA copolymer plant with an annual capacity of 270 KT. 

All five plants will be part of a new petrochemical complex in the industrial city of Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia. Start-up is scheduled for 2009.

“Basell is the only polyolefins technology company offering a complete portfolio of PP and PE technologies,” said Just Jansz, president of Basell’s Technology Business.  “PMD has decided to source all of its polyolefin technology needs from a single supplier, Basell.  A single reference point for technology facilitates project implementation, competitiveness and project financing.”

PMD has licensed all of its 1.6 million tonnes of polyolefin capacity from Basell including gas phase, slurry and high pressure tubular polyethylene processes as well as the world’s leading polypropylene technology.

Basell’s complete portfolio of licensed technologies is comprised of:

• Spheripol – polypropylene technology for the production of homopolymer, random and heterophasic copolymers.
• Spherizone – latest generation polypropylene technology based on new multi-zone reactor technology.
• Spherilene – swing gas phase process for the production of LLDPE and HDPE.
• Hostalen - low-pressure slurry process for the production of bi-modal HDPE.
• Lupotech G – fluidised bed gas phase process for the production of HDPE and MDPE.
• Lupotech T – high pressure tubular reactor process for the production of LDPE and EVA copolymers.

Basell also produces and commercialises advanced catalyst systems which are sold under the Avant trade name.

Basell is the world's largest producer of polypropylene and advanced polyolefin products, a leading supplier of polyethylene and catalysts, and a global leader in the development and licensing of polypropylene and polyethylene processes. Basell, together with its joint ventures, has manufacturing facilities around the world and sells products in more than 120 countries. Additional information about Basell is available at www.basell.com.

For more information contact Michelle Harrell, Basell Corporate Communications, at
+1 410 996 1366, +1 302 438 6574 or michelle.harrell@basell.com