Albemarle to start up South Korea catalyst plant Q4 2012

04 November 2011 23:32  [Source: ICIS news]

BUENOS AIRES (ICIS)--US-based specialty chemicals producer Albemarle expects to start up its metallocene catalysts manufacturing plant in Yeosu, South Korea, in the fourth quarter of 2012, Raghu Menon, business development manager for polyolefin catalysts, said on Friday.

The plant will produce metallocene catalysts, methylaluminoxane and components - used in the production of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and elastomers, he said.

Albemarle completed construction of research and development laboratory facilities at Yeosu in the fourth quarter of 2010, and finished a multi-functional pilot plant at the site in the second quarter of this year, he said on the sidelines of the 2011 Petrochemical Seminar, organised by US-based Polyolefins Consulting.

The investment will meet rising demand for metallocene catalysts in the Asia-Pacific region. “The region is going to see an explosion in demand for polyolefins, and we want to be part of that,” Menon said.

Albemarle is also building a catalysts plant with Saudi major SABIC in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Organometallic Chemicals Co (SOCC), a 50:50 joint venture between Albemarle and SABIC affiliate Saudi Specialty Chem, held a groundbreaking ceremony for the project in September.

The plant will have the capacity to produce 6,000 tonne/year tri-ethyl aluminium, a Ziegler-Natta co-catalyst used in the plastics industry. It is also scheduled to start up in the fourth quarter of 2012.

For more about Albemarle visit ICIS chemical intelligence

By: Anna Jagger
+44 20 8652 3214

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