Poland’s ZAP, ZAT push ahead with Asia capro plant plan

09 January 2012 17:20  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS)--Polish chemical producers Zaklady Azotowe Pulawy (ZAP) and Zaklady Azoty Tarnow (ZAT) are looking at a capacity of 80,000-120,000 tonnes/year for their planned caprolactam (capro) plant in either China or Taiwan, ZAP said on Monday.

Research had convinced the joint-venture partners that there should be a major market for a long time ahead in eastern Asia for capro produced by European producers with patented technology, added ZAP.

Establishing capro production at a gateway to the Asian market was thus a clear priority for both firms, it said.

ZAP could not yet provide a figure on the capital expenditure that would be set aside for the investment project but as guidance noted that a 200,000 tonne/year capro installation that was currently being built in China by other investors was costed at $661m (€522m).

ZAP and ZAT are to create an Asian subsidiary for the realisation of their capro project, though no targeted plant completion date has been set yet. 

The companies are Poland's only capro producers, with capacities of 70,000 tonnes/year and 86,000 tonnes/year, respectively, though ZAT plans to expand its capacity to 101,000 tonnes/year soon.

($1 = €0.79)

By: Will Conroy
+44 20 8652 3214

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