Lyondell Chemical Company today celebrated the official groundbreaking for the world's largest
propylene oxide (PO) and
styrene monomer
(SM) plant to be built in the Maasvlakte region of The
Netherlands.
As previously announced, Lyondell and
Bayer AG will each have a 50 percent interest in the joint venture facility, which has a planned capacity
of 285.000 metric tons (625 million pounds) of PO and 640.000 metric tons (1.4 billion pounds) of SM. Each partner will independently take
in-kind its 50 percent share of the PO and SM
production.
Lyondell will manage the project and operate the facility using its proprietary technology. Lyondell has more than 30 years of operating
experience and technology improvements for the PO process.
"This will be a state-of-the-art facility utilizing the latest technology for
emissions control,
water treatment,
waste management and efficient use of
energy and will benefit from integration with the existing Lyondell operations in The
Netherlands," said Dan F. Smith, Lyondell's President and
Chief Executive Officer. "By
partnering with
Bayer on this project, we can take advantage of the economies of a world-scale plant and better
match each company's growing needs for
propylene oxide and styrene monomer."
A large portion of Lyondell's share of PO output will be used to supply feedstock for Lyondell's new
butanediol (BDO) plant being build at the
Botlek site and scheduled for start-up in the second quarter 2002. Lyondell's 50 percent share of the styrene output will be used to supply its established European merchant position and to support
its global network of customers.
As previously announced,
ABB Lummus Global has been awarded the facility's
engineering, procurement and construction contract. Contracts have been signed for utilities and key
raw materials.
The project is expected to create jobs for approximately 1.800 to 2.000 construction employees and 200 permanent operating employees. Start-up of the plant is expected in the second quarter
2003.
Currently, Lyondell operates world-scale PO
plants in Europe, at Botlek in The Netherlands and Fos-sur-Mer in Southern
France and in the United States at Channelview and Bayport, Texas. The
Maasvlakte is located near Lyondell's Botlek facility.