Sabic has signed a contract with German contractor Uhde for the construction of a new bimodal HDPE (high density polyethylene) plant at its production site in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

The new 250,000 tonnes per year (tpy) plant will come on stream in the fourth quarter of 2008 and replace the current 100,000 tpy PE plant in Gelsenkirchen. The investment in the new project, including the infrastructural improvements at the site, is around $255.6 million.
“I am pleased that after more than two years of dedicated work, we have decided to start with the construction of the plant,” said Abdullah Bazid, managing director, chemicals and intermediates. “Investment in the Gelsenkirchen site is a positive signal for the site to become even more competitive as against other petrochemical sites in Europe.”