APLA ’08: Pemex restarts PE plant after fire

18 November 2008 17:43  [Source: ICIS news]

RIO DE JANEIRO (ICIS news)--Mexico's Pemex Petroquimica is restarting its Morelos high density polyethylene (HDPE) facility following a fire on Friday in which five people were injured, an official from the state-owned petrochemicals producer said on Tuesday.

The fire took place while the 100,000 tonne/year Mitsui technology swing HDPE plant was being restarted following a maintenance outage, said Luis Rafael Montanaro Sanchez, strategic planning and business development manager.

One of the two 50,000 tonne/year lines had already been restarted and the second was being started up, he told ICIS news on the sidelines of the 28th Latin American Petrochemical Meeting (APLA).

“On spec product is expected for the night shift,” he added.

The fire was brought under control swiftly and there was no structural damage, Montanaro Sanchez said. He was not able to discuss the reason for the incident.

Parent group Pemex said in a statement issued late on Friday that of the five people injured, four were sent to hospital and one to a medical clinic.

Two remained in hospital and were in a stable condition, Montanaro Sanchez said.

The three-day conference ends on Tuesday.

For more on HDPE visit ICIS chemical intelligence

To discuss issues facing the chemical industry go to ICIS connect

By: Anna Jagger
+44 20 8652 3214

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly