NewsFlashArya Sasol LDPE unit delayed to Oct

13 September 2007 09:07  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--Arya Sasol has delayed the start-up of its 300,000 tonne/year low density polyethylene (LDPE) plant at Assaluyeh in south-western Iran by a month due to a compressor problem, a source close to the joint venture company said on Thursday.

The plant will start up in early October instead, the source said.

Arya Sasol’s medium density PE (MDPE)/high density PE (HDPE) swing plant with the same capacity will go on stream in early December, a month later than earlier expected, he added.

Arya Sasol’s 1m tonne/year cracker, also known as Olefins No 9, from which the PE plants will source ethylene feedstock, is currently running at 60% capacity, the source said.

The cracker which started up in early August was the first to come on stream in Assaluyeh.

The delay in the start-up of the PE plants has come at a time when LDPE supply in all regions is extremely tight, with prices surging to record highs of up to $1,680/tonne CFR (cost and freight) in the Middle East, up $80/tonne from last month, according to global chemical market intelligence service ICIS pricing.

Arya Sasol is a joint venture between National Petrochemical Co (NPC) and South African chemicals giant Sasol.

By: Prema Viswanathan
+65 6780 4359

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