MOSCOW (MRC) -- INEOS Phenol has broken ground at its world scale cumene investment in Marl, Germany, said the company.
The new state-of-the-art 750 000 t unit is scheduled to be completed in 2021. Its location will help optimise the efficiency of the plant by integrating raw materials from the refinery and cracker complex. The site also benefits from the Marl harbour waterway connection.
The ceremony was attended by Economy Minister Andreas Pinkwart and local politicians, as well as customers and business partners of INEOS.
INEOS Phenol is the world’s largest producer of phenol and acetone and the largest consumer of cumene as an essential raw material. The construction of the plant will support customer’s ambitions and secure the supply of raw material to the INEOS phenol and acetone plants located in Gladbeck and Antwerp for decades to come.
At the ceremony, Andy Currie, Director of INEOS Capital, said: “INEOS Phenol has been a strong contributor to the INEOS Group for nearly 20 years. The investment here, at Marl in a world scale cumene unit will help underpin the continued success of this business for many more years to come."
Hans Casier, CEO of INEOS Phenol, added: “We are very pleased to be making this important feedstock investment in our European business. It shows a clear commitment by INEOS to its business, customers and suppliers. Our customers should be confident that we are investing in our business to meet their long-term business needs."
Minister Pinkwart said: “The chemical industry is the driver of innovation, it provides essential basics and is imperative for coping with tasks ahead. This new plant will be a fine example of the industry's innovative strength. Today's ground-breaking ceremony is also a sign for the unique ‘Verbund’ structure of our chemical industry in North Rhine-Westphalia. The ‘Verbund’ makes an important contribution to the attractiveness of chemistry in the northern Ruhr area and to the increasing competitiveness of our industry."
Phenol is the main feedstock component for the production of bisphenol A (BPA), which, in its turn, is used to produce polycarbonate (PC).
According to ICIS-MRC Price report, July imports of PC granules and compounds to Russia, excluding deliveries from Belarus, were 2,3400 tonnes, compared to 1,840 tonnes a month earlier and 1,070 tonnes in July 2018. Last month's imports of PC granules, excluding Belarusian shipments, were 1,940 tonnes (extrusion grade PC - 1,290 tonnes, injection moulding PC - 580 tonnes, blow moulding PC - 80 tonnes) versus 790 tonnes in July 2018. In June 2019, imports of PC granules reached 1,350 tonnes. Shipments of PC granules, excluding imports of Sabic material from Belarus, rose in January-July 2019 by 87% year on year to 9,140 tonnes from 4,890 tonnes a year earlier.
MRC