LyondellBasell to slow construction at US PO/TBA plant amid coronavirus concerns

HOUSTON (ICIS)–LyondellBasell will be slowing down construction at its propylene oxide (PO) and tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA) plant in Channelview, Texas, the company said on Monday.

In a release, the company said it is limiting non-essential activities at this time because of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, which has grown rapidly in the US within the past several weeks. The company said it took into consideration government orders designed to limit human contact.

The company also said that it chose to limit construction at this time because needed products are not yet being produced at the site. The company’s ongoing operations at Channelview and at its Bayport complex in Pasadena, Texas, will proceed.

In February, the company had announced that construction was more than 30% complete at the facility. In November 2019, the company said the project was more than 20% complete.

The $2.4bn PO/TBA project began in August 2018.

The project consists of a PO/TBA plant being constructed in the company’s facility in Channelview and an ethers unit at the company’s Bayport Complex.

Once finished, the plant will produce  2.2bn lb/year (1m tonnes/year) of TBA and 1bn lb/year of PO.

PO is used to make bedding, furniture, carpeting, coatings, and adhesives. TBA is converted to produce methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE).

Both MTBE and ETBE are components of high-octane gasoline.

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