Arya Sasol LDPE delayed again to mid-Nov

27 September 2007 11:10  [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 due to a technical problem, a source close to the company said on Thursday.

 

The plant will start up in mid-November, and not early October as earlier expected, the source said.

  

This is the second delay in the start-up of the plant, which was originally set to start up in early September.

 

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, the source 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 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 August, 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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