GE/Toshiba, Shin-Etsu Thai jv to begin construction Sept

18 April 2001 07:41  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (CNI)—Construction on the GE Silicones/Toshiba and Shin-Etsu Baht10.5bn ($231m/Euro262m) joint venture, Asia Silicones Monomer (ASM), in Thailand is set to begin in September 2001, a Shin-Etsu spokesman told CNI on Wednesday.

GE Silicones, a division of GE Plastics of the US, had earlier entered into an equal partnership with Japan’s Toshiba as a precursor to the formation of ASM. Shin-Etsu is a Japanese petrochemical major with strong global positions, especially in polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

ASM, a 50:50 jv between GE Silicones/Toshiba and Shin-Etsu formed in February 2001, plans on building a 140 000 tonne/year plant in Mab Ta Phut, southern Thailand, for the production of silane-monomer and siloxane, the spokesman said.

ASM is at present reviewing its list of interested contractors for the commencement of construction due in September, the spokesman said. The company, however, is yet to obtain a ‘promotion certificate’, without which it cannot begin construction, from Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI), he added.

The promotion certificate from the BOI is expected in August, according to the spokesman.

GE Silicone/Toshiba and Shin-Etsu plan on using ASM’s output for their respective operations in the Pacific as well as for sale on the open market, the spokesman said. However, the manufacture and sale of silicone end-products will continue to be undertaken separately and independently by the two shareholder companies, he added.

Silane-monomer and siloxanes are essential materials used in the production of silicone end-products, the spokesman said. Silicone is the chemical combination of organic and inorganic substances, he added.

Silicone end-products are widely used in the automobile, aviation, electronics, construction, health care and textile industries, the spokesman said.

By: Iqbal Anand
+65 6780 4359

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