Japan’s Mitsubishi Chem shuts Kashima No 1 cracker for maintenance

10 May 2012 11:45  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Japanese chemical producer Mitsubishi Chemical shut its 343,000 tonne/year No 1 naphtha cracker in Kashima as scheduled on Thursday for a turnaround, a company source said.

Operations at the cracker are expected to resume by 3 July, the source said, adding that the plant was running at close to 80% capacity prior to the turnaround.

The turnaround is expected to have a minimal impact on the market as it is a scheduled maintenance shutdown.

Mitsubishi Chemical is still waiting to hear from the government if its 435,000 tonne/year No 2 naphtha cracker at the same site can skip a planned maintenance shutdown this year, he said.

Separately, no turnaround has been planned for the company’s 431,000 tonne/year naphtha cracker in Mizushima this year.

The producer’s No 2 cracker at Kashima and its Mizushima cracker is expected to continue to run at close to 80% capacity in May, unchanged from April, he added.

By: Peh Soo Hwee
+65 6780 4359

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