Saudi International Petrochemical Co (Sipchem) said operations resumed on Wednesday at its affiliate's methanol plant after nearly six weeks of scheduled maintenance.

Sipchem affiliate International Methanol Company (IMC) conducted repairs and maintenance as well as improvements to several critical operating processes at the plant, the company said in a bourse filing.

Based on the shutdown from November 1 to December 15, the financial impact is estimated to be 45 million riyals ($12 million), which will be reflected in its fourth-quarter earnings, Sipchem said.

Sipchem owns 65 per cent of IMC, while a Japanese consortium owns the rest.-Reuters