Huntsman enters two construction ventures

EVERBERG, Belgium (Dec. 15)—Huntsman Corp. has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Ahmad Hamad Al-Gosaibi & Bros. Group of Saudi Arabia to explore the feasability of building a petrochemical facility at Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia. The proposed venture will evaluate the potential of building a new plant with an existing petrochemical factory there, Huntsman said. The venture initially will focus on the production of ethylene oxide derivatives, such as ethanolamines and ethoxylates for the surfactant market, said Huntsman, which would supply the technology and manufacturing expertise at the site. Separately, Huntsman also has entered into a production joint venture with Saudi International Petrochemical Co. and its partners in Gulf Advanced Chemical Industries Co. Ltd. to construct a new $220 million butanediol and maleic anhydride manufacturing site at Al-Jubail.