NPC delays No 2 PTA-to-polyester

09 February 2004 00:01  [Source: ACN]

NATIONAL Petrochemical Co (NPC) has delayed the startup of its No 2 purified terephthalic acid (PTA)-to-polyester project in Bandar Imam, Iran, to Q1 2005.

ACN was told earlier that the complex, to be operated by NPC subsidiary Shahid Tondguyan Petrochemical, was due to start up in H2 2004 (ACN 28 April 2003). No reason was given for the delay.

An NPC spokesman said the project would start commissioning in Q4, with commercial production set for Q1 2005. He added that work on the 350 000 tonne/year PTA unit was around 40% complete.

The planned 396 000 tonne/year polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-polyester facility is 33% complete. Consisting of three lines, it will produce 132 000 tonne/year each of bottle-grade PET resin chips, fibre-grade PET and partially oriented yarn.

A source close to the project told ACN that the entire facility was likely to start commissioning only in March next year and start commercial production in June 2005.

He said the delay was due to local contractors being unable to deliver some equipment on time.

Slow construction hits No 1 PTA-PET

SHAHID Tondguyan Petrochemical has revised the startup dates for its No 1 purified terephthalic acid (PTA)-polyethylene terephthalate (PET) project to later this year, ACN was told.

The project in Bandar Imam, Iran, was originally due to have started up in different stages last year (ACN 28 April 2003).

A spokesman for National Petrochemical Co, the parent company of Shahid Tondguyan, said the 350 000 tonne/year PTA facility will now come onstream in Q2. Pre-commissioning work has started.

The PTA facility will start up at the same time as a 60 000 tonne/year PET bottle-grade line – one of four PET lines being built. The 420 000 tonne/year PET unit also includes a second bottle-grade line and two fibre-grade lines, each with a capacity of 120 000 tonne/year.

The two fibre-grade lines are due to start up in in Q3. Both lines are more than 85% complete, the spokesman said.

He added that the 120 000 tonne/year bottle-grade line, which is 80% complete, would start up at end-2004.

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