Petrochemical Plant to Come Online in Adana

Petrochemical Facility Coming Online in Adana SASA Polyester Sanayi A.Ş., operating in Adana, is accelerating construction work on a facility in which it has begun investment of USD 950 million for the production of Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA), the raw material for fiber and polyester, with the aim of bringing it into service in 2023. With its new facility, SASA aims to contribute to both employment and the country's economy. Mehmet Şeker, Member of the Board of Directors at SASA Polyester Sanayi A.Ş., stated that on their facilities established over an area of 1.8 million square meters, they have an annual production capacity of 1.4 million tons of fiber, chips, POY and chemicals. Şeker noted that 4,800 people are currently employed in their operations and said they are working to increase this number further through new investments. Şeker stated that construction work is proceeding rapidly on the PTA facility, which they have begun building under a licensing and technical services agreement of USD 935 million signed with American Invista (Koch Industries), with the aim of bringing it into operation in February 2023. Şeker continued his remarks as follows: "We started construction approximately 5 months ago. As we promised, we intend to bring it into operation in February 2023. We will produce 1.5 million tons of PTA here. This facility will be the first in Turkey; no such facility has been built before. In fact, it will be the largest facility in this region, extending as far as North Africa and Russia. Once this is completed, we will have annual production of around 3 million tons. Part of this production will be used domestically and part for exports. Last year our exports were around USD 175 million; hopefully we will reach USD 350 million by year-end. Once this is completed, our exports will reach around USD 1 billion. Currently we have heavy exports to Europe and the Americas. Our target is USD 1 billion in exports and around USD 3.5 billion in revenue." Şeker noted that the large petrochemical facility will significantly increase their production capacity, and in this regard they will connect by laying approximately 7 kilometers of track to the Adana-Mersin railway line for easier transport of products. Pointing out that after taking over SASA they increased the workforce from 1,000 to 4,800 in six years through investments in chips, polyester and fiber, Şeker reported that with the new PTA facility this will reach 6,500. Şeker stated that 7,000 people will be employed in the one-year construction of the PTA facility alone. Source