The Saudi Bio-acids Company is planning to build a citric acid plant in the kingdom, according to a statement by the company.

The company, made up of a group of Saudi Arabian investors, said the plant will be located at the Red Sea port of Yanbu and have an initial production capacity of 20,000 tonnes a year (t/y), expanded to 40,000 t/y within two years of the opening.

The plant will be operational by 2013, and on completion employ 2,000 people, says the statement. Most of the citric acid produced would service the domestic market.

The value of the project was not disclosed although the investors have applied to the Saudi Industrial Development Fund for a loan.

Citric acid is a preservative that is added to food and soft drinks to give a sour taste.