The Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) and Sumitomo Chemical Company have selected Basell’s Hostalen technology for a new 300 KT per year high density polyethylene (HDPE) plant. The plant will be part of a new integrated refining and petrochemical complex to be built in the Red Sea town of Rabigh, Saudi Arabia. Start-up is planned for late 2008.
“Over the past five years, HDPE slurry capacity additions have exceeded gas phase additions,” said Just Jansz, president of Basell’s Technology Business. “The preference for HDPE slurry technologies, such as Hostalen, has been driven by an increased demand for specialty bimodal products.”
Hostalen technology is a dual reactor, low-pressure, slurry process for the production of HDPE. The two reactors can be operated in series or in parallel to customize product properties. To date, 30 Hostalen technology licenses have been granted worldwide for a combined annual capacity of nearly 5 million tonnes.
“Bimodal HDPE offers better processability without a loss in mechanical strength, which permits downgauging,” Jansz said. “In pressure pipe applications, the use of bimodal HDPE allows wall thickness to be reduced, which not only reduces raw material requirements, but also increases pipe flexibility.”
Basell’s complete portfolio of licensed technologies is comprised of:
• Spheripol – polypropylene technology for the production of homopolymer, random and heterophasic copolymers.
• Spherizone – next 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.
About Basell:
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 Talmo, Basell Corporate Communications, at +1 410 996 1366, +1 302 438 6574 or michelle.talmo@basell.com
