KBR Purifier® Selected for 3,500 MTPD Jubail Ammonia Plant (SABIC AN)

Key highlights
  • KBR will provide Purifier® technology, basic engineering, proprietary equipment and catalyst for a 3,500 MTPD single‑train ammonia plant in Jubail.
  • The plant will produce about 1.2 million metric tons of ammonia annually.
  • Project will raise SABIC Agri‑Nutrients' urea capacity from 4.8 to 7.4 million metric tons per year.
  • EPC contractor Samsung E&A will deliver the facility; KBR says this is its largest ammonia licence by capacity in the Middle East and Africa and one of the Kingdom’s largest ammonia plants licensed.

Scope and partners

KBR will license its Purifier® ammonia technology and supply basic engineering design, proprietary equipment and catalyst for a single‑train 3,500 metric tons per day (MTPD) ammonia plant in Jubail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, working alongside EPC contractor Samsung E&A.

Capacity and downstream impact

The train is expected to produce approximately 1.2 million metric tons of ammonia per year and to increase SABIC Agri‑Nutrients' urea production capacity from 4.8 million to 7.4 million metric tons annually.

Performance and significance

KBR states the Purifier® configuration will deliver lower carbon intensity per ton of ammonia compared with conventional process designs. The award is described as one of the largest ammonia capacity plants licensed in the Kingdom and KBR’s largest ammonia licence by capacity in the Middle East and Africa.

Context

This marks KBR’s second large‑scale single‑train ammonia award in 2026, following a 3,430 MTPD plant in Latin America. KBR notes its ammonia technology has been deployed in more than 260 grassroots facilities since 1943 and references ongoing improvements in energy efficiency, emissions and plant performance, including its KBR INSITE® AI operations advisor.

Source: KBR

chemXplore Weekly

The week’s project milestones and project news from the chemical industry, free every Wednesday.

Free. One email a week. Unsubscribe any time.

Related articles

10 September 2026
SABIC AN greenlights ammonia and urea complex; EPC awarded to Samsung E&A

New complex adds 1.2 Mt/yr ammonia and 2.6 Mt/yr urea, lifting urea capacity to 7.4 Mt/yr; construction starts Q4 2026, commercial production expected Q4 2030. Includes carbon capture tech.

24 September 2026
TOYO completes third fertilizer line for Indorama in Nigeria

Third line comprises 2,300 t/d ammonia and 4,000 t/d single-line urea (ACES21™); built adjacent to existing Port Harcourt complex; awarded 2023, completed June 2026.

20 July 2026
MAIRE/Tecnimont awarded €1.3bn EPC for 2.1 Mt/yr urea complex in Argentina

Facility will be Latin America’s largest urea plant, with an on-site ammonia unit and two ultra-low energy urea trains; Nextchem supplies urea tech and primary reformer; 41-month schedule.

14 September 2026
Nextchem (MAIRE) to supply NX STAMI™ Urea technology for SABIC AN’s SAN-7 complex

Two 3,850 MTPD urea units in Al Jubail; €125m technology package covering licensing, PDP and proprietary equipment; supports Saudi fertilizer capacity expansion.

29 July 2026
SABIC Q2 2026 revenue $6.62bn; earnings fall

Q2 sales fell 5% Q-o-Q; adjusted EBITDA SAR 3.38bn; H1 dividend SAR 3.3bn; Fujian complex start-up expected Q4 2026.