Ras Laffan Olefins cracker to reach full rates in early 2011

23 November 2010 12:00  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS)--The new Ras Laffan Olefins Co cracker in Ras Laffan, Qatar, is expected to reach full operating rates early next year, an official with Total Petrochemicals said on Tuesday.

“We had some mechanical constraints that are being addressed, and we hope to get to 100% capacity by very early next year,” said Graeme Burnett, Total Petrochemicals’ senior vice president for Asia and Middle East.

Ras Laffan Olefins, which is 22.2% owned by Total Petrochemicals, started up the 1.3m tonne/year cracker in April and has gradually increased throughput to about 60% of nameplate capacity, Burnett said.

The downstream linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) plant at Mesaieed, operated by Qatar Petrochemical Co (QAPCO) on behalf of Qatofin, is running at 100% capacity, Burnett said.

Qatofin is a joint venture between Total Petrochemicals (36%), which is based in Brussels, Belgium, QAPCO (63%) and Qatar Petroleum (1%).

Ras Laffan Olefins is a joint venture between Qatofin and Q-Chem II, which is a joint venture between Qatar Petroleum and US-based Chevron Phillips Chemical Co.

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By: Anna Jagger
+44 20 8652 3214

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