image here

Jubail Acetyls Complex (JAC)

The Jubail Acetyls Complex (JAC) represents the second phase of Sipchem's development in Jubail Industrial City and a significant escalation in scale, complexity, and strategic importance. The project, with an estimated overall value of $1.8 billion, was a multi-plant development that firmly established Sipchem as a major global player in the acetyls market. The complex was designed to be an integrated production hub, comprising several core units: an Acetic Acid (AA) plant, a Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) plant, a Carbon Monoxide (CO) plant, and extensive supporting utilities. A cornerstone of the JAC's strategy was the acquisition of best-in-class, proprietary technology from established global leaders. This approach allowed Sipchem to bypass the lengthy and costly process of internal research and development, ensuring that its products would meet global quality standards from the outset and could compete effectively in international markets. The key technology partnerships were: Acetic Acid (AA) Plant: This unit, with a capacity of 400,000 MTPA of acetic acid and 50 MTPA of acetic anhydride, was built using technology licensed from Eastman Chemical Company, a renowned leader in acetyls production. Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) Plant: This facility, designed to produce 330,000 MTPA of VAM, utilized technology from DuPont, another global chemical giant known for its high-end specialty plastics and polymers. The complex also included a new carbon monoxide production plant, reported to be the world's largest by capacity at the time, which provides essential feedstock to the acetic acid unit.