SABIC to Expand Its Global Innovative Plastics Business

SABIC announced a number of investments in its core product portfolio as well as its high performance offerings. Over the next five years, SABIC's innovative plastics business will add a total of 338 kt/y of capacity across its entire global portfolio. For polycarbonate alone, SABIC plans to bring on line nearly 35% of the world's publicly announced capacity expansions as part of its joint venture with Sinopec in Tianjin, China.

The company also has a number of operational initiatives underway that are intended to implement greater reliability and production efficiencies. Two of these projects are in progress at SABIC's Mount Vernon, Indiana facility and are aimed at increasing the site's global competitiveness and sustainability.

The first project is the installation of a state-of-the-art cogeneration plant that will use natural gas to create the majority of the site's steam. According to SABIC, this will reduce the facility's greenhouse gas intensity by 35-40% compared to 2010 levels and increase the plant's overall energy efficiency.

The second project is supposed to drive chemical production efficiency improvements of 20-30% in Mount Vernon's polycarbonate operation as well as promoting greater safety and sustainability.

SABIC also converted one of Mount Vernon's units to run on different feedstock and to increas its overall competitiveness in PBT resin in North America.