(Platts) -- South Korea's SK Energy
plans to restart its long-idled No. 1 naphtha-fed steam cracker at Ulsan on
November 20, a company source said Monday. The steam cracker is able to produce
200,000 mt/year of ethylene and 140,000 mt/year of propylene.
The cracker has been shut since November 2008 due to negative margins
amid a sharp decline in petrochemical demand. Despite negative ethylene
margins, SK Energy has decided to restart the No. 1 cracker as margins for other
olefins -- such as propylene -- are strong.
Meanwhile, SK Energy started running its No. 2 steam cracker, also
located at Ulsan, at 100% from Sunday. The cracker was restarted last Thursday
after a turnaround from October 1. The No. 2 cracker is able to produce 660,000
mt/year of ethylene and 360,000 mt/year of propylene.
mrcplast.com
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