Sebacic Oman to build $250m bio-based nylon project

Sebacic Oman SAOC plans to build a bio-based nylon project as forward integration of its soon-to-be-commissioned sebacic acid project in the Duqm free zone in Oman. Pradeepkumar B Nair, chief executive officer of Sebacic Oman, said: "The 10,000 tonne per annum-capacity project, which is expected to produce two grades of bio-nylon (nylon 6-10 and nylon 10-10), will have an estimated capital expenditure of $250m." This will be the first project in the Middle East that will see the production of bio-based nylon, which will have applications in aerospace and engineering polymers.

“As much as 70% of the $250m will be from lending institutions and 30% will be by way of equity capital,” Nair told Times of Oman.

Bio-based nylon will use sebacic acid from the company and benzene and sulphur from Sohar-based Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industry (Orpic) as raw materials. The project is currently in the design stage, which is being carried out by the company’s technology supplier, Cong Associates.

The design of the equipment, plant, and machinery will be completed in December 2018. The project structure and MEP design for the venture will be carried out by Semac and Partners.

Construction work will start sometime in 2020, while the project is expected to be completed in 2022.