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UOP Technology licensed to Eurochem to convert methanol to olefins in new Nigerian petrochemicals plant
First commercial-scale plant to use UOP technology to produce olefins from methanol derived from natural gas

01 Feb 2008 - UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, announced that Viva Methanol Limited, a subsidiary of Eurochem, has selected the UOP/Hydro MTO process technology and the Total Petrochemicals/UOP Olefin Cracking process technology to produce light olefins - the basic building blocks for plastics - from natural gas-derived methanol at a new Viva Polymers Ltd. facility in Nigeria.
 
The project will be the first commercial-scale installation of the MTO process and Olefin Cracking process technologies. The facility, located within the Lagos Free Trade Zone, Nigeria, will produce olefins from methanol derived from natural gas, an attractive, "cost-advantaged" feedstock that is plentiful in the region. The new facility will produce 1.3 million metric tons of ethylene and propylene annually for the production of polyethylene and polypropylene, which are used in the production of plastics for packaging, pipes, carpeting, film and other products. UOP will provide technology license, basic engineering, catalysts, adsorbents, specialty equipment, and technical support. The new plant is expected to come online in 2012.