Dow and Mosaic Ink Saudi Projects

US companies Dow Chemical and Mosaic have signed agreements for separate projects in Saudi Arabia as part of President Donald Trump’s two-day visit to the Kingdom earlier this month.

A first agreement by Dow will see the construction of a plant in Plaschem Park, Jubail, to produce a range of acrylic-based polymers for industrial and architectural coatings, water-treatment and detergent markets in Saudi Arabia.

Dow also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a feasibility study on a proposed siloxanes and silicones complex. The Michigan-headquartered group said this investment will serve to further integrate the former Dow Silicones business into Dow and accelerate the development of new hybrid materials for regional-specific needs. Dow recently won a contract to supply silicone sealants for the structural facade of the Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia, which will be the tallest building in the world when it is completed.

A timescale for both the polymers and silicone projects was not disclosed.

Separately, fertilizer group Mosaic has signed an MoU that covers several areas of potential collaboration in the Saudi phosphate industry. Mosaic is already working with SABIC and Saudi Arabian Mining Company Ma’aden on an $8 billion phosphate project that is now nearing completion. The Ma’aden Wa’ad Al Shammal plant in the north of the Kingdom will have a capacity of about 3.5 million t/y.

In addition, Ma’aden is advancing a third phosphate fertilizer project in Saudi Arabia. This project, which is expected to be implemented in phases and start production early in the next decade, anticipates adding up to an extra 3 million t/y of capacity. Total investment in the project, which is subject to completing definitive studies and obtaining the necessary approvals and consents, is estimated at $6.4 billion.