Shintech may build US VCM plant, expand US PVC unit in Louisiana

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Shintech has filed a permit to build a vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) plant and expand an existing vinyls plant in Plaquemine, Louisiana, according to documents ICIS obtained on Tuesday.

Under the proposal, Shintech would expand polyvinyl chloride (PVC) capacity to 2.215bn lb/year from 1.400bn lb/year, it said in a public notice filed with the US Army Corps of Engineers.

It would also build a plant that will produce chlor-alkalis, ethylene dichloride (EDC) and VCM, the permit said. Shintech did not list the capacities of the new plant.

Shintech did not say when operations could start at the plants if it chooses to develop the project.

A spokesman for the company was out of the office on Tuesday and unavailable for comment.

Shintech is building a 500,000 tonne/year ethane cracker at Plaquemine, which is expected to be complete in 2018.

The image above shows the site for Shintech’s proposed VCM plant and expanded PVC unit. Source: US Army Corps of Engineers