MOSCOW (MRC) -- Axens says it will license its alpha-olefins production technology to Baltic Chemical Plant LLC (BCP LLC), a subsidiary of RusGazDobycha (Moscow, Russia), for its gas-based petrochemical project at Ust-Luga, near St. Petersburg, Russia, said Chemweek.
Axens will supply its AlphaButol technology for the production of high-purity butene-1 by ethylene dimerization, and its AlphaHexol process to produce high-purity 1-hexene through ethylene trimerization. Both products are used as comonomers in the production of various grades of polyethylene (PE), including linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
Butene-1 will be produced at two 60,000-metric tons/year units at the petchems complex, while 1-hexene will be produced at a single 50,000-metric tons/year plant on the same site. The agreement includes the transfer of the license, the process book, a number of chemicals such as catalysts and adsorbents, and proprietary equipment, says Axens. It will also provide training to the customer’s employees, plus technical support, it says.
"Work on the construction of a gas chemical complex, as part of an ethane-containing gas processing complex, is proceeding according to the schedule," says Konstantin Makhov, project operator BCP LLC’s general director. “Conclusion of an agreement for the supply of technology for the production of alpha-olefins is the completion of the next significant stage in the project," he says.
The gas chemical project being built on the shore of the Gulf of Finland is planned to produce 3 million metric tons/year of PE, alongside an integrated complex for processing and liquefying natural gas, as well as marine terminals for the shipment of commercial products. The overall USD13.2-billion ethane gas processing complex is a joint project between RusGazDobycha and Gazprom (Moscow). Long-term contracts were signed by both companies in June guaranteeing the supply of 45 billion cubic meters/year of ethane feedstock for a period of at least 20 years.
According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's overall PE production totalled 1,712,400 tonnes in the first seven months of 2020, up by 58% year on year. Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) accounted for the greatest increase in the output.
BCP LLC chose Univation Technologies’ Unipol PE process for six 500,000-metric tons/year PE lines at the complex last year. China National Chemical Engineering Co. (CNCEC) will build the complex, centered on two steam crackers, each with capacity to produce 1.4 million metric tons/year of ethylene. The complex will also have capacity for 274,000 metric tons/year of linear alpha-olefins (LAO). The units are slated for start-up during 2023–24. Lummus Technology will provide the process design package, engineering, and the license for the olefin production and recovery units.
MRC