Overview and Partners

EQUATE Petrochemical Company was founded in 1995 as a joint venture between government-owned Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) and Union Carbide Corporation, now a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, and Boubyan Petrochemical Company - a public company traded on the Kuwait Stock Exchange.

Current ownership of the organization sees Dow Chemical Company and PIC each retaining 42.5%, Boubyan Petrochemical Company holding 9%, and the remaining 6% owned by Qurain Petrochemical Industries Company - a private company established in Kuwait during 2004.

The company's petrochemical complex began production in November 1997 following inauguration by H.H. Shaikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the late Amir of Kuwait.

Location in the Shuaiba Industrial Area afforded ready access to a world-class infrastructure offering reliable supplies of electricity and cooling water, well-established maintenance facilities, and a dedicated industrial port with capacity to meet present and future shipping requirements.

Producing polyethylene and ethylene glycol for the markets of Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe, EQUATE addresses the rapidly growing global demand for high quality and competitively priced plastics and chemicals.

The company owes its success to Kuwait's rich natural resource, and the continuous efforts of some of the most dedicated and skilled people in the business. It has achieved a leading market position and has become widely recognized for its high standards of delivery and customer service.

EQUATE produces polyethylene and ethylene glycol utilising Union Carbide's sophisticated UNIPOL II® and Meteor® process reactors. With over 1,000 reactor-years of successful operation, these technologies offer the safest and most environmentally sound polyolefin processes in the world.

Production capabilities
The company's ethane cracker produces 800,000 tonnes of ethylene per annum utilising feedstock supplied by National Petroleum Company's LPG plant, located close to the industrial complex. This ethylene in turn supplies three plants:

  • EQUATE's polyethylene unit, producing 600,000 tonne per annum;

  • EQUATE's ethylene glycol unit, producing 400,000 tonnes per annum;

  • The PIC owned polypropylene plant, operated by EQUATE.


  • Polyethylene is marketed through EQUATE Marketing Company (EMC) to customers in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and other selected areas.

    Social role
    The company's significance extends beyond its production activities. EQUATE has fulfilled a vital role in the diversification of Kuwait's economy, reducing its long-term dependence on oil revenues. In addition to an economic return, Kuwait has benefited from the company's introduction of new technology, research and development in the petrochemical field, and expertise in marketing, finance and management.

    EQUATE has also been responsible for the creation of new employment and training opportunities and has raised the benchmark for commercial practice in the GCC region.

    Customers gain a competitive edge
    EQUATE meets its customers' application and performance requirements for linear low- to high-density polyethylene. The UNIPOL® process allows for the production of resins combining the strength of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) with the processability of conventional low-density polyethylene, as well as bi-model high molecular weight, high-density polyethylene film resins.

    Polyethylene is the most frequently used plastic in the world, used to manufacture a remarkable range of items. These include merchandise and trash bags, packaging film, containers, crates and children's toys. Other blow- and injection-moulded applications include agricultural film, flexible hose and tubing, insulation and jacketing for telecommunications and power cables, storage tanks, piping, geo-membranes
    and pond liners.

    The METEOR® process is central to EQUATE's ability to supply ethylene glycol for expanding polyester fibre, resin for fashion and home furnishings, beverage containers, anti-freeze and coolants as well as extremely thin, high-strength films for computers, VCR and audio tapes.

    The Dow Chemical Company
    Dow is a leader in science and technology, providing innovative chemical, plastic and agricultural products and services to many essential consumer markets. With annual sales of $40 billion, Dow serves customers in 175 countries and a wide range of markets that are vital to human progress: food, transportation, health and medicine, personal and home care, and building and construction, among others. Committed to the principles of sustainable development, Dow and its 43,000 employees seek to balance economic, environmental and social responsibilities.

    For more than a decade Dow has embraced Responsible Care® - a voluntary industry-wide commitment to the safe handling of chemicals from inception in the laboratory to ultimate disposal. This worldwide commitment translates into better lifestyles and the well-being of communities, success for customers, stockholder advantage and employee achievement.

    http://www.dow.com

    Petrochemical Industries Company
    Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC). PIC was established by Amiri Decree in 1963 and commenced production in 1966, representing a first for Kuwait and the GCC region.

    Located in the Shuaiba Industrial Area, the company's initial fertilizer plant comprised four units producing ammonia, urea, sulphuric acid and ammonium sulphate. The complex was subsequently expanded in 1970 and 1984, when PIC became the largest ammonia producer in the Middle East. PIC is now also a leader in salt and chlorine production and its state-of-the-art complex employs the latest technology to meet international quality standards and specifications.

    In 1976 the private sector equity of PIC was transferred to the State of Kuwait and in 1980, upon its formation, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation assumed full control and ownership of the company.

    http://www.pic.com.kw

    Boubyan Petrochemical Company
    Boubyan Petrochemical Company (BPC) was established following a 1995 public share offering, with an initial capital of KD 30 million (US$ 100 million). While BPC retains a broadly based portfolio of direct investments across the industrial sector, its primary focus remains on the chemical and petrochemical businesses. This includes a wholly owned subsidiary producing polyethylene film.

    In addition BPC owns 7.5 percent of Jubail Chemical Industries Company (JANA), which produces epoxy resins and engages in the research and development of epichlorohydrin and chloralkalis.

    Qurain Petrochemical Industries Company
    Al-Qurain Petrochemical Industries Company (QPIC) is a Kuwaiti company established in 2004. QPIC is Kuwait's second company for petrochemicals after Boubyan Petrochemical Company. QPIC owns a 6% stake in EQUATE, making it the fourth partner in EQUATE's corporate shareholder structure.