On the morning of October 10, 2026, there was already a chill in the sea breeze of Gulei Peninsula in Zhangzhou, Fujian. At 9:28 am, at the site of the Zhongsha Gulei ethylene project, the operator pressed the confirmation button, and the 10/1 million tons/year ethylene oxide/ethylene glycol unit was officially put into operation with oxygen. Eight hours later, at 17:30, the analysis data showed that all indicators of the ethylene glycol product were qualified, and the first batch of products was successfully sent to the intermediate tank area. Without repeated debugging or parking, this set of the world's largest single ethylene oxide/ethylene glycol unit was successfully driven in one go.

Complete the entire process in eight hours

Ethylene glycol may sound unfamiliar, but it is a key basic raw material that is indispensable for products such as polyester fibers, bottle chips, and antifreeze. The market demand has always been stable. This set of equipment started construction on March 30, 2024, was mechanically completed on March 28, 2026, handed over on May 28, and then produced qualified products through oxygen injection and start-up, taking about 31 months. The smooth 8-hour operation is backed by a comprehensive examination of the process route, core equipment, and safety interlock system, which also means that Fujian Zhongsha Petrochemical has the ability to produce ethylene glycol on a large scale, laying a solid foundation for commercial operation. At present, the system is running smoothly and all parameters meet the standards. The company will continue to optimize the working conditions and accelerate the achievement of high and stable production, as well as optimal and high production.

Four sets of devices achieved consecutive victories

The ethylene glycol plant is not advancing alone. Prior to this, the project had already completed three sets of core polyolefin units for trial operation, both of which were successful. As of mid September 2026, the 550000 ton/year PP-H/R unit, 600000 ton/year LLDPE unit, and 400000 ton/year ICP PP unit have successfully completed their first test run, with all systems running smoothly and all indicators fully meeting the standards. The 600000 tons/year metallocene linear low-density polyethylene/high-density polyethylene plant is the largest single series scale metallocene polyethylene plant in the world. It started construction in March 2024 and was successfully launched in September 2026, taking 31 months to complete the entire process flow smoothly.

The real leader is still behind. The ethylene plant with a maximum annual output of 1.8 million tons has completed the high standard intermediate handover and started the linkage test on June 18, 2026, and the project has officially entered the sprint stage of feeding test. According to the Development and Reform Commission of Zhangzhou City, the project aims to be fully operational by November 2026.

A petrochemical city rises from the ground

The Zhongsha Gulei Ethylene Project is a joint venture between Fujian Energy and Petrochemical Group and Saudi Basic Industries Company, with a total investment of approximately 44.8 billion yuan. SABIC's wholly-owned subsidiary holds 51% of the shares, while Fujian Energy and Petrochemical Group holds 49%. This is the largest Sino foreign joint venture project with a one-time investment scale in Fujian Province so far, and also the first major project in China where a local provincial enterprise directly cooperates with a world petrochemical giant. It took a full 7 years from the signing of the memorandum of understanding between China and Saudi Arabia to the full commencement of the main project.

The project focuses on a 1.5 million tons/year ethylene cracking unit as the core leader, with plans to construct 14 sets of deep processing units and adopt 19 globally leading technologies, including 9 SABIC proprietary technologies. It is located in the Gulei Petrochemical Base, one of the seven major petrochemical bases in China, and is intertwined with the three core industrial chains of aromatics fiber, olefins plastics, and green low-carbon that have been formed in the park. Upstream by-products are processed and consumed 100% here, while downstream enterprises obtain stable raw materials at their doorstep. After the project is put into operation, it is expected to have an annual output value of about 34 billion yuan and an annual tax revenue of about 3 billion yuan, which can drive an additional investment of about 160 billion yuan in downstream industrial chains and supporting service industries.keywords:New energy information network

From electronics and electrical, artificial intelligence, communication, healthcare, to automobiles and new materials, the high-end chemical materials produced here will flow to the end of each industrial chain. As an important practice of the joint construction of the the Belt and Road Initiative and Saudi Arabia's 2030 vision, the Zhongsha Gulei Ethylene Project is growing from a construction site into a petrochemical new town that affects the upstream and downstream.Editor/Yang Meiling