EVERBERG, Belgium – Huntsman Corp. and the Zamil Group Holding Co. have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore the feasibility of constructing and operating a morpholine and Diglycolamine® Agent (DGA) amines joint venture in Jubail, Saudi Arabia.

 

The joint venture would operate the proposed plant on a 50-50 basis and would use technology licensed from Huntsman, with Huntsman also having the rights to global sales and marketing of products produced at the plant.

 

Daniele Ferrari, President of the Performance Products division of Huntsman, said, “This planned joint venture would make Huntsman the most global supplier of DGA and morpholine, with assets in Europe, the United States and now the Middle East. It would also fulfill part of our on-going strategy of expanding in the Middle East to better serve local and global customers, including the growing gas-treatment market in the Gulf.” Ferraro added, “The Zamil Group Holding Co. is a major player in the region’s petrochemical industry, and we are delighted to explore the opportunity of cooperating again with such a dynamic company.”

 

Amines are chemical intermediates used in a very wide range of products and applications, including detergents, personal care products, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, cement, metal-working fluids, agrochemicals, fuels, dyes, coatings and resins, and gas treatment. Morpholine is a neutralizing amine used for preventing carbonic acid corrosion in plant or refinery steam condensate systems. Diglycolamine Agent amine is used for removing carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide from refinery and production gas streams. Huntsman currently makes morpholine and Diglycolamine Agent amines at its plants in Port Neches, TX, and Llanelli, Wales.