Borealis Sweden cracker outage prompts 'force majeure'

23 February 2005 13:49  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (CNI)--Polyolefins producer Borealis has declared force majeure on feedstocks and cracker products and will close its cracker in Stenungsund, Sweden for two weeks from mid-April, a company spokeswoman disclosed on Wednesday.

 

Borealis notified customers and suppliers today that a force majeure event at the cracker has necessitated the two-week outage. It will mean the company may be unable to receive feedstocks or deliver cracker products, including ethylene, propylene, polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), the spokeswoman explained.

 

Recent technical evaluations revealed vibration on the main gas compressor which is expected to worsen, prompting the decision to shut the plant to make repairs, she said.

 

Because of the nature of the technical problem, a shutdown inevitable, she stressed.

 

The cracker ran at maximum rates in February, while March rates are expected to be around 95-100% of capacity. The plant has a capacity of 610 000 tonne/year of ethylene and 250 000 tonne/year of propylene.

 

Borealis

 

(Philippa Davies contributed to this story.)

By: Frank Watson
+44 208 652 3214

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