Under the terms of the agreement, TSOC will take a 75 per cent equity stake in the project company, Saudi Acrylic Monomer Company, with Rohm & Haas holding the remainder.

The new facility will produce 250,000 tonnes a year of acrylic acid and related esters from 2011. The acrylic acid will be produced from propylene and air. The acrylic acid produced will be used, along with methanol, butanol, ethylene glycol and 2-ethyl hexanol procured locally, to feed an esterification unit to produce mixed acrylate. The acrylic acid will be also purified and polymerised at two polymerisation and purification units to produce super absorbent polymer (MEED 1:12:06).

Rohm & Haas will supply its proprietary technology for the plants. Propylene feedstock will be sourced from the Jubail-based Saudi Ethylene & Polyethylene Company (SEPC), in which TSOC has a majority stake.

TSOC will have responsibility for marketing the facility’s output within the GCC, with Rohm & Haas selling it worldwide.

TSOC is a joint stock company owned by Tasnee and Sahara Petrochemical Company, both local.