Idea Soda Ash and Calcium Chloride Company (Isacc) has awarded? a US$300mn contract to Jacobs Engineering to provide engineering and project management services for a soda ash, calcium chloride production facility in Saudi Arabia.
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First-of-its-kind
The facility which will be based in Jubail's second industrial city is the first-of-its-kind in Saudi Arabia and the GCC for production of soda ash (sodium carbonate) and calcium chloride. These products, currently being imported, are used in oil and gas drilling operations, as well as in the manufacture of glass and detergents.
Production and operation
Jacobs said the commissioning production run is scheduled to start by end of 2014 and commercial operations are expected to follow in the first quarter of 2015. The company, however, did not disclose the contract value.
Contribution to non-oil economy
Isacc managing director & CEO Abdulaziz A-Muaiyyad said, "The project will make a significant contribution to the development of Saudi's non-oil economy with all basic materials secured from mines within the Kingdom."
Work is currently in progress to secure all the other necessary utilities to run the project. Isacc is setting up a new entity - Jubail Inorganic Chemicals Industries Company - to run the new facility.
"It is the first of its kind in the Kingdom and we fully recognize the importance of increasing the participation of the chemical industries sector in the national economy," Irvin added
