An explosion at National Petrochemical Industrial's (Natpet, Jeddah / Saudi Arabia; www.natpet.com) PP complex in Yanbu / Saudi Arabia has resulted in the death of one employee on the afternoon of 2 October 2018. Eleven other people are injured. Reuters reported that the subsequent fire at the plant was brought under control on 3 October. The cause is said to be a technical defect in the plants. For the moment, production is shut down, said a statement from the company. Although the exact extent of the damage is not yet known, such an event is likely to have significant consequences.

According to Plasteurope.com's Polyglobe database (www.polyglobe.net), Natpet's propane-based plant in Yanbu has capacities of 420,000 t/y of propylene and 400,000 t/y of polypropylene, which is produced using LyondellBasell's (LYB, Houston, Texas / USA; www.lyondellbasell.com) "Spheripol" processing technology. Natpet says it exports PP under the "Teldene" brand to more than 60 countries worldwide. The Saudi company also operates a compounding joint venture with A. Schulman, with a capacity of 100,000 t/y in Yanbu. A. Schulman was recently acquired by LYB – see Plasteurope.com of 23.08.2018.