US-based Fluor Corporation has been awarded an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract from Sapco for its super absorbent polymer project (SAP) in Jubail.

Sapco is a joint venture between Saudi Acrylic Acid and Evonik Industries.

Fluor booked the undisclosed contract value in the second quarter of 2011, a statement said.

'Sapco's confidence in Fluor's ability to successfully execute this project reflects well upon our more than 60 year track record performing chemicals, plastics and oil & gas projects in Saudi Arabia,' said Peter Oosterveer, president of Fluor's Energy & Chemicals Group.

“The growing interest in chemicals and plastics capital development projects in the Middle East and throughout the world plays well into our long-term global leadership role in developing such projects,” he added.

The SAP project work is under way and is expected to be completed and commissioned by the fourth quarter of 2013.

The end product, super absorbent polymer, is used in the manufacture of disposable diapers. This SAP project is part of a larger program being developed by Saudi Acrylic Acid Company, for which Fluor has been engaged since the early developments of the project.

Nearly 200 professional staff in Fluor's Haarlem, Manila and Al Khobar offices (Netherlands, Philippines and Saudi Arabia respectively) will be engaged on the project, plus a construction staff of nearly 700 workers at peak, the statement said. – TradeArabia News Service