MOSCOW (MRC) -- EQUATE Group has announced the official start-up of the MEGlobal Oyster Creek site’s commercial production of fibre-grade, on-spec monoethylene glycol (MEG), accoridng to Refining&Petrochemicals.
The plant has a nameplate capacity of 750,000 metric tonnes per annum (mtpa) of ethylene glycol and access to shipping routes to customers around the world.
The new plant will be operated by MEGlobal Americas Inc., a subsidiary of EQUATE Petrochemical Company and is the group’s first manufacturing facility in the United States. It will produce monoethylene and diethylene glycol, products used in a number of market applications, including polyester fibres, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and packaging, anti-freeze and coolants, paints, resins, deicing fluids, heat transfer fluids and construction materials.
From safety to schedule to cost control, the MEGlobal Oyster Creek site epitomises our commitment to operational excellence and efficiency in order to serve the growing customer need for ethylene glycol across the globe.Dr Ramesh Ramachandran, president and CEO of EQUATE, said: "The successful execution of this project demonstrates EQUATE’s ability to leverage its best-in-class practices across the globe. From safety to schedule to cost control, the MEGlobal Oyster Creek site epitomises our commitment to operational excellence and efficiency in order to serve the growing customer need for ethylene glycol across the globe."
"The new facility is the first major investment by a Kuwait-based company on the US Gulf Coast. It built on the long-standing relationship between Kuwaiti partner, Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) in Kuwait and US partner, Dow Inc., a relationship that was forged during the liberation of Kuwait. That relationship led to the formation of the EQUATE Petrochemical Company, a joint venture between Dow and PIC (42.5% ownership each) as well as Boubyan Petrochemicals Co. (BPC) with 9% ownership, and Qurain Petrochemical Industries Co. (QPIC) with 6% ownership."
The new Oyster Creek MEGlobal plant is an expansion of the company’s ethylene glycol business in order to meet fast-growing global demand.EQUATE’s executive vice president, Naser Al-Dousari, said: "The new Oyster Creek MEGlobal plant is an expansion of the company’s ethylene glycol business in order to meet fast-growing global demand. It greatly enhances our global presence and falls under our continuous plans to maximise value as a leading ethylene glycol producer and supplier."
The MEGlobal Oyster Creek plant is leveraging the US shale gas advantage by utilising ethylene from the Dow Oyster Creek facility. The site has also licensed Dow’s METEOR technology for its processes.
The project achieved several milestones in its construction, including more than 3.5 million consecutive safe work hours. It created 55 new full-time and 25-35 contract jobs. It employed almost 2,000 construction workers during project’s peak and will contribute approximately USD24mn per year to the local economy.
As MRC informed before, MEGlobal inaugurated its 750,000-metric ton/year ethylene glycol (EG) unit at Oyster Creek, Texas on 10 Septmber, 2019. The plant was in final start-up stages and was expected to produce on-spec product within 30 days.
MEG is one of the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia;s estimated PET consumption decreased in July 2019 by 4% year on year. 428,790 tonnes of PET were processed in Russia over January-July 2019. Russia's PET production was 44,430 tonnes in July.
MEGlobal is a world leader in the manufacture and marketing of merchant monoethylene glycol and diethylene glycol (EG). Established in July 2004, the company is a joint venture between The Dow Chemical Company and Petrochemical Industries Company of Kuwait and is headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. With approximately 200 employees worldwide, MEGlobal serves customers around the world, and has production facilities in Fort Saskatchewan and Prentiss, Alberta, Canada.
MRC