Shell declares force majeure on Wesseling C2, C3 supplies

04 September 2009 15:46  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--Shell has declared force majeure on ethylene (C2) and propylene (C3) supplies from its site at Wesseling, Germany, due to an unexpected reduction in operating rates as a result of a feedstock constraint, a company source said on Friday.

An issue with the site’s hydrocracker over the weekend of 22-23 August resulted in the shortage of feedstock, the source said.

Shell operates two crackers at the Wesseling site, 2A and 2B, which have the combined capacity to produce 500,000 tonnes/year of ethylene and 280,000 tonnes/year of propylene, according to the ICIS plants and projects database.

The force majeure on propylene that Shell issued in early August for its cracker at Moerdijk, the Netherlands, was still in place due to ongoing technical issues.

The source said that it expected its supply situation to improve during the month, but there was no clear idea of how long the force majeure declarations would remain in place.

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By: Nel Weddle
+44 20 8652 3214

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