SABIC AN Builds New Ammonia and Urea Complex in Saudi Arabia, Urea Capacity to Increase by 54%

en.Wedoany.com Reported - SABIC Agri-Nutrients Company (SABIC AN) has formally approved the Final Investment Decision (FID) to build a large-scale ammonia and urea industrial complex in Saudi Arabia, and has awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract to Samsung E&A.

The new complex will include an ammonia plant with an annual capacity of 1.2 million metric tons, using KBR technology; it will also include two urea plants with a combined annual capacity of 2.6 million metric tons, with technology licensed by Stamicarbon and thyssenkrupp Uhde.

In line with the group's decarbonization goals, the complex will also incorporate a large-scale carbon capture unit using Shell Global Solutions technology to minimize operational emissions intensity.

Upon completion of the expansion, SABIC AN's total urea capacity will increase from 4.8 million metric tons per year to 7.4 million metric tons per year, a 54% increase over current operating levels. The company aims to use the additional output to meet growing global market demand while reducing the overall carbon footprint of its product portfolio. Embedding carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) directly into the plant's operational design also makes the facility a core pillar of the company's overall corporate strategy to advance carbon neutrality and provide low-carbon chemical solutions to international buyers, in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.

SABIC AN CEO Fahad Al-Battar stated that the project is a key pillar of the company's 2040 growth strategy and will help achieve its sustainability and carbon neutrality goals. He said that through this expansion project, the company aims to ensure reliable and sustainable supply for customers, maximize value for shareholders, contribute to the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, and support global food security.

Commissioning and startup of the complex is planned for the third quarter of 2030, with full commercial production expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2030.