Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) has selected Basell’s Hostalen technology for two new high density polyethylene plants to be built in Europe and Saudi Arabia. 

One of the plants, to be built by SABIC’s affiliate, Yanbu National Petrochemical Company, will be part of a new petrochemical complex in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. The plant will have an annual capacity of 400 KT, with start-up planned for 2007. The other plant, to be built by Sabic Europe at one of its European sites, will have an annual capacity of
220 KT, with start-up scheduled in 2008.

The license agreement includes an option for Sabic to enter into an additional five license agreements to build Hostalen process plants.

“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to work with SABIC in these new projects,” said Just Jansz, president of Basell’s Technology Business.  “SABIC is one of the largest and most important polyethylene producers in the world; the company’s selection of Hostalen technology validates our view that this process offers the best combination of high-value product capability and attractive economics.”

The Hostalen process is a dual reactor, low-pressure slurry technology for the production of HDPE.  The two reactors can be operated in parallel or in series to customize product properties, especially for bimodal HDPE. 

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