PE production unaffected by cracker shutdown in Argentina

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Dow Chemical is restarting its gas cracker at the Ingeniero White petrochemical complex in Bahia Blanca in Argentina, a source familiar with the company said on Wednesday.

According to local media, the plant, Etileno II, stopped for repairs because of a loss of steam.

“This shutdown at the cracker is being completely done within Dow’s safety standards,” the source said.

The cracker was scheduled to restart at this time, the source said. 

Ethylene is used to produce polyethylene (PE), which goes into plastic bags, food packaging, appliances, toys and other items.

Sources said the shutdown did not affect PE production.

Dow’s low density PE (LDPE) plant at Bahia Blanca has remained down since November 2015 after a fire. It should restart by November 2016.

Dow Chemical is Argentina’s sole PE producer. It also makes high density PE (HDPE) and linear low density PE (LLDPE), according to ICIS plants and projects.