MOSCOW (MRC) -- LyondellBasell on Monday announced plans to build a world scale PO/TBA plant on the US Gulf Coast with capacity of 900 million lb/year of propylene oxide (PO) and 2 billion lb/year of tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA) and its derivatives, reported Hydrocarbonprocessing.
The preliminary timetable is to have the plant operational in 2019. The project is expected to generate up to 1,200 construction jobs at its peak.
The plant is expected to sell PO in the global marketplace to meet growing demand for polyurethanes, which are used primarily for the manufacture of bedding, furniture, carpets and car seats.
Meanwhile, TBA and its derivatives will be sold to meet the need for high octane gasoline blending components as well as for use in manufacturing synthetic rubber and lubricant additives.
"While we have not finalized the exact location of the plant, the abundant natural gas liquids associated with shale gas make the US Gulf Coast an advantaged feedstock region," said Pat Quarles, LyondellBasell's senior vice president of intermediates and derivatives.
We remind that, as MRC informed previously, LyondellBasell, the world’s biggest maker of polypropylene plastic, has delayed the start-up of expanded production at its ethylene plant in La Porte, Tex., until later this year. A mechanical issue with a compressor at the plant was partially to blame for the extended turnaround at La Porte.
The revised timeline for the newly expanded plant project, which was scheduled to begin production this summer resulted from a delay in the completion of extensive scheduled maintenance at the La Porte plant during the second quarter. The company expects to begin production from its 800 million lb/year La Porte ethylene during this year’s third quarter.
LyondellBasell Industries NV is a manufacturing company. The company produces chemicals, fuels, and polymers used for packaging, clean fuels, durable textiles, medical applications, construction materials, and automotive parts. LyondellBasell Industries operates globally and is headquartered in the Netherlands. LyondellBasell is also a leading licensor of polypropylene and polyethylene technologies. The more than 250 polyolefin process licenses granted by LyondellBasell are twice that of any other polyolefin technology licensor.
MRC