Fears for jobs as Sabic pauses 'cracker' project

AN extended pause on a multimillion-pound project to bring chemical giant Sabic’s Olefins 6 plant back into use, has prompted fears for hundreds of jobs on Teesside.

- By TOM KEIGHLEY

The 'cracker' plant, which has been offline since the end of 2020, was due to be converted to run entirely on gas feedstocks.

But the project was paused last year, with a decision on the investment expected in late April to early May.

Sabic’s Saudi bosses have wrestled with what they say are uncertain market conditions and have yet to make a final call on the business case for restarting of the work, completion and ultimately recommissioning of the plant.

Hundreds of Sabic workers and many more in the company’s supply chain had hoped to see work now back under way.

Jos Visser, site director of Sabic’s Teesside operation, insisted the plant was not being mothballed and that the conversion project would remain under constant consideration.