Idemitsu’s Chiba PX unit unaffected by fire at site

19 March 2008 03:39  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--Para-xylene (PX) production at Idemitsu Petrochemical’s 265,000 tonne/year plant in Chiba, Japan was unaffected by a minor fire that occurred at an aromatics unit at the same site earlier this week, a source close to the company said on Wednesday.

He said the unit, which converts aromatics to benzene, had caught fire on Monday afternoon while it was being cooled down. There were no injuries and the plant equipment was also not damage.

"There is no influence on PX production," the source said, adding that the Chiba plant was slated for a scheduled turnaround at the end of March for 40-50 days.

Idemitsu also runs another 214,000 tonne/year PX plant at Tokuyama, which would be taken offline at the end of September for close to 50 days’ maintenance.

For more on PX visit ICIS chemical intelligence 

By: Peh Soo Hwee
+65 6780 4359

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