TEXAS, US: INEOS Oxide has narrowed down its site selection process for a previously announced ethylene oxide (EO), ethylene glycol (EG) and derivatives manufacturing complex on the U.S and Gulf Coast. Ineos will carry out a final detailed feasibility study for each of the locations, as part of the company’s strategy to grow its global business over the next few years.
“Following our announcement earlier this year, we have narrowed down the potential locations for a final detailed study on our ethylene oxide and its derivatives investment; The company’s studies so far have reaffirmed that U.S is the obvious location for Ineos Oxide to consider its next expansion,” said Hans Casier, CEO, Ineos Oxide. The company already has a manufacturing presence in the U.S. “capable of taking full advantage of competitively priced feedstock,” he added. Ineos Oxide has EO derivative plants at Freeport, TX and Plaquemine, LA.
The project will be designed to produce “at least” 500,000 m.t./year of EO with a corresponding amount of glycol and derivatives. The three sites under consideration have proved to be front runners in a screening study carried out so far. Ineos envisages making a decision on the final location early next year and proceeding with detailed engineering. Startup of the new complex is foreseen at the end of 2014.
INEOS has also confirmed that the construction of its deep-sea 1 million m.t./year ethylene terminal at Zwijndrecht, Belgium will be completed next year.
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