BP Chemicals to build acetic acid and BDO complex

(chemicals-technology) -- BP Chemicals Investment (BPCIL) has signed a memorandum of understanding to construct an integrated acetic acid and 1,4 butanediol (BDO) complex at Chongqing, China.
BPCIL, a wholly owned subdisiary of BP, signed the MoU with SK Global Chemical, South Korea and Sinopec Sichuan Vinylon Works (SVW).

The CNY7bn (USD1.1bn) integrated complex is expected to consist of a 200,000mt/year BDO unit, a 600,000mt/year acetic acid plant and other related facilities.
The complex, which will be located in the Chongqing Changshou Economic and Technological Development Zone, northeast of Chongqing city by the Yangtze River, is likely to use 440 million m?/year of natural gas as feedstock.
The project is expected to be equipped with SVW's natural gas partial oxidation technology which converts natural gas to acetylene.

The acetic acid plant, which will use BP's Cativa technology, will be a joint venture (JV) in which BPCIL holds 51%, SVW 44% and Chongqing Energy Investment Group (CEIG) 5%, while the BDO JV will be equally owned between SVW and SK, according to the Chemical Week.
The acetic acid plant will supply hydrogen to the BDO facility, which will in turn provide acetylene off-gas to the acetic acid plant.

The project, which is awaiting the government approval, is likely to be completed in phases in 2015. BP and Sinopec currently operate an acetic acid JV, which has a combined capacity of 850,000 mt/year, while the wholly owned subsidiary of SK Innovation, SK Global Chemical, runs a 40,000mt/year BDO facility in South Korea.

mrcplast.com