Iran's Amir Kabir again delays start-up of LDPE plant

20 September 2010 04:10  [Source: ICIS news]

TEHRAN (ICIS)--Iran’s Amir Kabir Petrochemical Co has delayed the start-up of its 300,000 tonne/year low density polyethylene (LDPE) plant for the second time, two sources close to the project said on Monday.

The facility, which is located at Bandar Imam, was supposed to come on stream in November 2010, after it missed its original deadline of early 2009.

There was no clarity on when the plant would start up, said the first source.

"It could be early next year, or six months later, or not in 2011 at all. No one knows exactly," he said, but added that the plant was ready for start-up, with all the equipment in place.

According to a second source, the prolonged delay in starting up the plant was an offshoot of the latest sanctions imposed by the United Nations, the US and the European Union on Iran.

"There seems to be some issue over the finetuning of the plant which is related to the sanctions," he said, without elaborating further.

Incidentally, the technology licensor for the plant is LyondellBasell, which had announced last month that it would cease all business ties with Iran, including licensing of technology, in conformity with the US sanctions.

Company officials were not available for comment.

Amir Kabir, formerly a subsidiary of Iran’s National Petrochemical Co, is now a privately owned company. It currently operates a 300,000 tootnne/year high density PE/linear low density PE (HDPE/LLDPE) unit and a 140,000 tonne/year high density PE (HDPE) unit at Bandar Imam.

With additional reporting by Chow Bee Lin

To discuss issues facing the chemical industry go to ICIS connect

By: Prema Viswanathan
+65 6780 4359

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