Kuwait benzene, PX start-up delayed to June '09

05 November 2008 13:10  [Source: ICIS news]

DUBAI (ICIS news)--Kuwait Aromatics Co (Karo) is expected to start up its aromatics complex at Shuaiba in June 2009, Equate Petrochemical CEO Hamad al-Terkait said on Wednesday on the sidelines of the Middle East Petrochemical Conference.

ICIS news had earlier reported that the KARO complex, which would produce 395,000 tonnes/year of benzene and 820,000 tonnes/year of paraxylene (PX), would start up in April 2009.

No reasons were given for the latest delay.

The benzene would be used for captive purposes by Kuwait Styrene's ethylbenzene and styrene monomer plant, Al-Terkait said.

The 500,000 tonne/year styrene unit was expected to go on- tream in the first quarter of 2009, he said.

Kuwait Styrene and Equate are joint ventures between the state-owned Kuwait Petrochemical Industries Co (PIC) and Dow Chemical, with each of the partners holding a 42.5% stake.

The remaining stake is held by local investors. Karo is a subsidiary of PIC.

The two-day Middle East Petrochemical Conference, organised by ICIS and Nexant, ends on Wednesday.

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By: Prema Viswanathan
+65 6780 4359

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