Feasibility study on Indian terephthalic acid

18 April 2005 00:01  [Source: ICB Americas]

MCC PTA India is studying the feasibility of a purified terephthalic acid (PTA) project in Haldia, India, according to a company source.

The source says MCC PTA has also evaluated a minor expansion of its 470,000 metric-ton-per-year plant and a relocation of a mothballed 150,000 metric-ton-per-year line from Japan that belongs to parent company Mitsubishi Chemical.

The company source says the latest study examines the possible configuration of a new plant, which would be based on Mitsubishi Chemical’s technology. The capacity of a PTA plant based on this technology is typically 600,000 metric tons per year.

As for paraxylene feedstock, the company source says current tight supplies will improve after 2008. “Owing to the robust demand for gasoline in India, many refineries will expand their facilities to increase gasoline production. This will also increase the feedstock availability for aromatics plants.”

The project will take more than two years to complete, says the source. “We just started on the study, and it will take some time to obtain approval from the company’s management.” The new capacity would ideally come on stream in 2008, he adds.

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