China's BP Zhuhai may shut 900,000 tonne/year PTA line

02 April 2009 03:42  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--BP Zhuhai may shut down its 900,000 tonne/year purified terephthalic acid (PTA) facility in southern China over the weekend due to mechanical problems that have been curtailing output this week, sources close to the company said.

A shutdown was “very likely” and “the down time could be around a week or two,” said one source.

“A decision would be made in the next few days,” added the source.

“Some mechanical problems are causing the overall operating rates to be lower at around 80%. But the problems are not so serious as to warrant an immediate shutdown,” said another source.

BP officials declined to comment.

BP Zhuhai also operates a 500,000 tonne/year PTA line in Zhuhai but this unit had been off line since February due mainly to tight supply of feedstock paraxylene (PX).

It was unclear if the smaller unit would be restarted once the bigger one is stopped.

BP Zhuhai is an 85:15 joint venture between oil giant BP and China’s Fuhua Group.

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By: Salmon Aidan Lee
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