BP Amoco to decide on Lavera expansion H1 '99

20 January 1999 15:43  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (CNI)--BP Amoco Chemicals is expected to decide on possible polyethylene (PE), ethylene oxide (EO) and polyisobutene (PIB) expansions at Lavera, southern France in about three to four months time, a spokesman told CNI Wednesday.

BP was considering the PE, EO and PIB expansions prior to its merger with Amoco at the end of last year, but all plans now need to be reviewed in the light of the new BP Amoco strategy, he said. "BP Amoco is now in place and it will take three to four months to define the company's strategies."

Options for the Appryl (49:51 BP Amoco/Elf Atochem joint venture) polypropylene (PP) and the 50:50 BP Amoco/Elf Atochem oxo alcohol plants at Lavera will also be studied.

The spokesman said the 230 000 tonne/year high density polyethylene (hdPE)/linear low density polyethylene (lldPE) swing plant could be expanded slightly, especially for pipe grade.

The EO study will take into account the fact that the 170 000 tonne/year Lavera unit is not world-scale (around 200 000 tonne/year), he said. A joint venture is one of several possibilities, he said, but declined to give further details.

BP Amoco, which has a strong US PIB position, may decide to expand its 80 000 tonne/year PIB plant at Lavera to strengthen its European position, the spokesman said. "PIB is clearly one of the strong businesses resulting from the merger," he added.

The Lavera expansion plans have not been affected by Naphtachimie's decision to cut back its cracker expansion at Lavera to 20 000 tonne/year from 100 000 tonne/year, the spokesman said. "We have plenty of ethylene to feed our units," he said. Naphtachimie is a 50:50 joint venture between BP Amoco Chemicals and Elf Atochem.

By: Anna Williams
+44 208 652 3214

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