SABIC to Shut Naphtha Cracker in Netherlands for Maintenance as Part of Upgrade

Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC), the world's biggest petrochemicals group, will shut one of two crackers at its Netherlands plant for maintenance in September, as per Plastemart.

The Olefins 4 cracker at Sabic's Geleen will close for six weeks from September 15 for routine maintenance work and as part of a EUR135 million (US$178 million) upgrade to increase energy efficiency.

"We do have a big turnaround. It's the usual turnaround we do every six years but this year we also have a big upgrade," said the company's spokeswoman Danielle Willems.

As MRC wrote previously, SABIC is reviewing its global growth outlook, especially in light of the weak economic situation in Europe, said chief executive Mohamed al-Mady. He added that it planned to cut 1,050 jobs in Europe and close some operations there because lower consumer spending had hit demand.

Sabic is a diversified manufacturing company, active in chemicals and intermediates, industrial polymers, fertilizers and metals. It is the largest public company in Saudi Arabia. Sabic is currently the second largest global ethylene glycol producer, the third largest polyethylene manufacturer, the fourth largest polyolefins manufacturer and the fourth largest polypropylene manufacturer.