Lanzhou Petchem’s new BTX unit still 'unstable'

27 June 2007 13:50  [Source: ICIS news]

SHANGHAI (ICIS news)--Lanzhou Petrochemical’s new benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX) unit in the Chinese province of Gansu had yet to reach 100% of nameplate capacity despite starting up last Wednesday, a company source said.

 

“The BTX plant’s operations are unstable due to some mechanical problems which we’re trying to iron out,” the source said in Mandarin.

 

The source said the 400,000 tonne/year unit produced some on-spec benzene on 23 June, three days after start-up, but had no on-spec toluene and xylene. “We cannot sell any of the products,” the source added.

 

Construction works on the BTX unit, located in the remote northwestern part of China, started in August last year. The project cost about Chinese yuan (CNY) 161 million ($21.1m) to complete.

 

The company also runs an old, 50,000 tonne/year BTX unit which is currently operating normally, she said.

 

Lanzhou Petrochemical is a subsidiary of Chinese energy major PetroChina.

 

($1 = CNY7.62)

 

By: Jade Xu
+65 6789 8828

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