SAUDI ARABIA —Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) Agri-Nutrients has appointed Nextchem to supply the technological framework for its new large-scale SAN-7 fertilizer project in Al Jubail. Operating through its nitrogen technology licensing subsidiary Stamicarbon, Nextchem will oversee technology licensing, process design packages, and proprietary equipment delivery. The contract has an estimated commercial value of €125 million and supports a grassroots production facility housing two urea units, each capable of producing 3,850 metric tons daily.
This technological deployment reinforces the expansion of industrial chemical manufacturing across the Middle East. By adding 7,700 metric tons of daily urea capacity, the Al Jubail development significantly expands Saudi Arabia's chemical output and regional export potential. The initiative directly aligns with national objectives under Saudi Vision 2030 to diversify industrial operations, boost domestic manufacturing capability, and support global agricultural supply chains.
The agreement highlights growing demand within the global chemical and fertilizer sector for high-efficiency processing systems. For plant operators and agricultural stakeholders, scaling urea production capacity addresses long-term international demand for food security and nitrogen-based fertilizers. Incorporating advanced process designs enables large-scale producers to optimize energy consumption while enhancing operational stability.
For international investors and EPC contractors, this development indicates sustained infrastructure spending within Middle Eastern downstream petrochemical sectors. Nextchem, the sustainable technology subsidiary of Italian industrial group MAIRE S.p.A., specializes in engineering solutions for nitrogen fertilizers, circular carbon projects, and low-carbon energy vectors. The firm's involvement underscores the continued reliance of major state-backed industrial entities on specialized European engineering platforms to execute capital-intensive chemical projects.
