Huntsman Corporation (NYSE:HUN) and Zamil Group Holding Company today announced completion of their new ethyleneamines joint venture plant, at a ceremony held in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. The 27,000 tonne/year plant, which will be operated by Arabian Amines Company (AAC), is currently undergoing commissioning and will commence deliveries in April. AAC is the Huntsman/Zamil Group 50:50 joint venture company established to deliver this project. The cost of the plant was not disclosed.
The joint venture will license Huntsman's proprietary ethyleneamines production technology and Huntsman will have exclusive sales, marketing and technical service rights for the plant's output.
Peter R. Huntsman, President and CEO of Huntsman Corporation, said: "We are delighted to be cooperating with the Zamil Group on this critical component of Huntsman's growth strategy for our global amines business." He added: "This new capacity makes Huntsman the largest global supplier of ethyleneamines and a global leader in amine chemistry. We are committed to continuing our focus on the Middle East and supporting our international markets."
Mr Fahad Al-Zamil, President of Zamil Group Holding Company/Jubail Operations said: "We are extremely pleased to be cooperating again with Huntsman and this new investment is confirmation of our successful strategy of continuing to invest in high value-added products." He added: "The Jubail site is ideal for chemical investments and indeed there is ample scope for further expanding this new ethyleneamines plant with a second train, should this be justified by market conditions."
The new ethyleneamines plant will produce ethylenediamine (EDA), diethylenetriamine (DETA), triethylenetetramine (TETA) and higher molecular weight versions such as TEPA, E-100, AEP and piperazine. The products serve as specialty intermediates for a variety of end uses including epoxy curing agents, lube-oil additives for gasoline and diesel engines, fungicides, wet strength resins and bleach activators.
Last December the two companies also signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the construction of a new morpholine and Diglycolamine Agent amines plant again in Jubail and also based on proprietary Huntsman technology. Further, Huntsman's Performance Products division licenses it maleic anhydride technology to International Diol Corporation, a Saudi company with operations in Jubail and in which Zamil Group and Huntsman are shareholders (with others including Sipchem).