Colombia’s Ecopetrol sets maintenance on LDPE unit

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Colombia’s sole domestic low density polyethylene (LDPE) producer will shut one of its two production plants on Wednesday for maintenance, a source familiar with the issue said on Monday.

Ecopetrol operates two units of LDPE. One plant, called Poly-1, produces 21,360 tonnes/year. The second, Poly-2, has a capacity of 43,440 tonnes/year, according to ICIS Plants and Projects.

Poly-2 will be down for 10 days for scheduled maintenance, the source said.

“[The LDPE] supply will not be affected,” the source said.

LDPE prices throughout Latin America have been under pressure in recent months because of limited supply.

Dow’s LDPE plant at Bahia Blanca, Argentina, has been idled since November, and ethane supply problems have hampered Pemex domestic production in Mexico.  

Ecopetrol is the sole PE producer in Colombia.