Solvay starts new venture in Saudi Arabia

Belgian chemicals and plastics company Solvay announced today that it had begun the construction – along with partners - of one of the world's largest hydrogen peroxide plants in Saudi Arabia, reports Reuters. Solvay and Sadara Chemical Company, a joint venture of Saudi Aramco and Dow Chemical Co, are building the 300,000 tonne per year plant at Sadara's chemical complex in Jubail (pictured). The unit, the third joint venture plant for Solvay, is expected to be operational in 2015 and will supply Sadara with a feedstock for making propylene oxide, a key component in the production of polyurethane plastics.