Sep 27 2005
BP is planning a second world-scale PTA (purified terephthalic acid) plant at their BP Zhuhai Chemical Company Limited (BP Zhuhai) site in Guangdong Province, China.
BP Zhuhai, a joint venture between BP (85 per cent) and Fu Hua Group (15 per cent), currently operates a 350,000 tonnes a year PTA plant at the site and will also own and operate the new plant.
The new plant, with a capacity of 900,000 tonnes a year, will be the first to employ BP's latest generation PTA technology and, subject to final approval from the Chinese Government, is expected to come on stream at the end of 2007 to meet PTA demand growth in China.
Steve Welch, BP Group Vice President, Aromatics and Acetyls, said: "This investment will be the world's largest single train PTA plant, built in the world's largest and fastest growing PTA market with the world's best technology - once again reinforcing BP's commitment to the PTA business and to China."
BP's new technology enables scale and cost efficiencies which significantly reduce both capital cost and conversion costs. In addition, the new plant will deliver a step change in environmental performance, reducing both greenhouse gas emissions and other waste streams.
"The significantly reduced environmental and energy footprint of the new technology will help China meet its commitments to the environment and should set a new standard for others to follow in this important arena," said Welch.
He added: "With the commercialisation of this new technology, we will actively pursue additional PTA investment options in China and extend our franchises in Europe and North America."
Components of the technology to be used at Zhuhai are also applicable across BP's global PTA system, enabling new globally competitive expansion options. BP is actively progressing major debottleneck projects in North America and Europe to take advantage of its enhanced technology position to meet regional demand growth and to improve BP's leading supplier position in these regions.
The Zhuhai project has already received approvals from the Chinese Environment Protection Agency and the project application has been submitted to National Development & Reform Commission (NDRC).
Upon final approval from the Chinese Government, the Zhuhai project will be built with significant local engineering, procurement and construction in addition to applying project experience from BP's global system of 21 operating PTA units.
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