Gohsei's Euro EVOH plant onstream by 2003

27 November 1998 17:52  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (CNI)--Japanese company Nippon Gohsei has confirmed to CNI that its planned Soarnol ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) plant planned for Europe is to be onstream by late 2002 or the beginning of 2003 at the latest.

A decision on where the 10 000 tonne/year capacity plant is to be built is expected by the end of 1998 or the beginning of next year at the latest, CNI was told by Naokai Takahashi, general manager for international business development.

British Petroleum told CNI a few weeks ago that it is in talks with Gohsei that could lead to the EVOH compounding unit being built at its Hull plant, northeast England, where it is building a vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) plant. VAM is the raw material wanted for the EVOH plant but Gohsei would not say which parties it is in negotiations with to locate its EVOH plant.

Takahashi said: "The outcome is still not clear." But he said that a decision was hoped for within the next few months.

Other VAM plants in Europe that could supply Gohsei's needs include Hoechst's Frankfurt facility, Rhone-Poulenc's Pardies, France unit, Wacker Chemie's Burghausen plants and Alusuisse Lonza's Lalden unit in Austria.

Another Japanese firm, Kuraray, is building its Eval EVOH plant in Antwerp, Belgium, and industry sources said the site could take another EVOH plant.

By: Patrick Reynolds
+44 208 652 3214

< previous article(VIDEO – ICIS news Americas Lunchtime Bulletin 30 Oct 2009)

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly