Sasol Iran start-up set for 3Q

13 March 2006 00:00  [Source: ICB Americas]

SASOL EXPECTS to start production at its delayed, one million metric-ton-per-year ethane cracker in Iran in the third quarter of 2006.

The ethane cracker was more than 92% complete, Sasol said in its 2005 results presentation. Its 300,000 ton Arya Sasol high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plant was more than 87% complete and the low-density PE (LDPE) plant more than 65% complete.

The HDPE and LDPE facilities would both go into operation in the fourth quarter of 2006, Sasol said.

Sasol Polymers is developing new monomer and polymer production facilities at Bandar Assaluyeh on the western seaboard of Iran through Arya Sasol Polymer Company, a 50-50 joint venture with the National Petrochemical Company (NPC) of Iran.

Sasol also said it expects increased polymer production from its domestic ZAR9.1 billion ($1.47 billion) Project Turbo expansion from the third quarter of 2006.

Operations at its new, 220,000 ton-per-year Sasolburg Midland LDPE plant are expected to start in the third quarter of 2006 and polypropylene operations at its 330,000 ton-per-year Secunda site in the fourth quarter of 2006. The new PP plant will complement the existing 225,000 ton-per-year PP plant at Secunda.

Project Turbo was originally due by the end of 2005 but has been delayed by rising costs and contractor shortages. Operating profit at Sasol’s polymers division fell to ZAR394 million in second half of 2005, down from ZAR569 million the previous year.

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