LyondellBasell starts new advanced HDPE plant

(PlasticsToday) -- Plastics supplier LyondellBasell, just a few months out of Chapter 11 protection, is moving ahead with strategic growth, adding another 320,000 tonnes of HDPE capacity in Europe. Output from the plant is even better than current bi-modal materials, claims the company.

The supplier reports the new plant, in Munchsmunster, Germany, uses its Hostalen Advanced Cascade Process (ACP) for production of the high-density polyethylene (HDPE). This new plant joins current LyondellBasell plastics plants in Frankfurt and Wesseling, Germany, and a joint venture in Plock, Poland, as all using the Hostalen ACP technology. The new plant has 65 full-time employees.

According to the supplier, Hostalen ACP technology surpasses standard bimodal HDPE performance by producing resins with an advanced toughness/stiffness balance, superior impact resistance, and a higher stress-crack resistance. Typical customer applications include thin-wall packaging, caps and closures, large blow molding and textiles for packaging.

MRCMRC Reference

LyondellBasell. The share in the Russian market in 2008:
PE - 1.4% (including HDPE - 2.5%, LDPE - 0.3%);
PP - 4.1% (including block-copolymers - 9.5%).

Annual sales growth in Russia, during the recent 5 years:
PE - 27%;
PP - 88%.

The leader in the following polymers processing technologies:

pipe extrusion;

film extrusion;

injection molding

(plastemart) -- Thailand's PTT and Siam Cement are optimistic of mobilizing all but one of its petrochemical projects in Map Ta Phut that have been halted as a result of the courts suspension orders on environmental concerns. Suspension is expected to be revoked on PTT's sixth gas separation plant, three projects of its affiliate PTT Chemical - a 50,000 tpa high-density polyethylene (HDPE) expansion, a 250,000 tpa HDPE expansion and a 50,000 tpa ethanolamine project. Four of Siam Cement Group's (SCG) projects are expected to join this list: a 350,000 tpa linear low density polyethytlene (LLDPE) unit, a 220,000 tpa specialty elastomers plant, a 90,000 tpa methyl methacrylate (MMA) plant and a 20,000 tpa cast sheet plant.

At present, the Thai Cabinet is assessing the list drafted by the National Environmental Board (NEB) exempting downstream petrochemical projects among those deemed harmful to the environment. A decision is expected to be reached this week.

MRC

ROTTERDAM (Chempoint) -- LyondellBasell is extending its range of high-performance Lupolen linear high density polyethylene (HDPE) resins to address the diversified requirements of customer rotomolding applications.Lupolen 3621 M RM Black and Lupolen 4021 K RM Black HDPE compounds are the latest additions to the company's recently launched portfolio of resins used in rotomolding.

According to Anna Raquet, LyondellBasell's Business Development Manager, Industrial Packaging & Rotomolding, ⌠Next to natural, black is the most commonly used color in rotomolding applications. With two new resins in our portfolio, we are well-positioned to address the polymer requirements of the rotomolding industry. The new pre-colored resins provide customers with excellent cold temperature impact performance and environmental stress cracking resistance. Typical customer applications include industrial fuel tanks, technical parts, and underground waste and sewage systems.

MRCMRC Reference

LyondellBasell. The share in the Russian market in 2008:
PE - 1.4% (including HDPE - 2.5%, LDPE - 0.3%);
PP - 4.1% (including block-copolymers - 9.5%).

Annual sales growth in Russia, during the recent 5 years:
PE - 27%;
PP - 88%.

The leader in the following polymers processing technologies:

pipe extrusion;

film extrusion;

injection molding

(plastemart) -- Saudi Arabia's Petro Rabigh expects to achieve on-spec production at its fluid catalytic cracker at Rabigh by mid week, as per Platts. Though in the process of restarting, the 900,000 tpa propylene capacity FCC, has yet to attain on-spec production. The FCC (deep catalytic cracker) has been offline since August 2 for repairs and was scheduled to restart about a week ago, but instability due to recent repairs delayed the process.

This shutdown forced a shutdown of the company's 700,000 tpa polypropylene plant. Petro Rabigh uses all its propylene output to make PP and also propylene oxide at its 400,000 tpa plant.

MRC

(plastemart) -- Shell Chemicals announced the successful first turnaround at the CSPCL - "Nanhai" petrochemicals joint venture complex in Guangdong, China. Nanhai is a joint venture with China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC). The turnaround was completed while simultaneously carrying out the debottlenecking of an ethylene cracker and process units. Both were finished ahead of time and within budget. Debottlenecking the ethylene cracker, ethylene oxide/ethylene glycols, and styrene monomer/propylene oxide process units will improve the site's competiveness by increasing capacity and reducing unit costs. After the debottlenecking, the annual ethylene capacity weShell Chemicals successfully completes first turnaround at Nanhaint from 800 kilotonnes per annum to 950 ktpa, with total petrochemical production capacity at the plant increasing from 2.3 million tons to 2.7 million tons.

MRC