Shell to advance feasibility plans for US MEG plant in Louisiana

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Shell Chemicals will advance feasibility plans for an expansion of its Geismar site in the US state of Louisiana, according to a press release by Louisiana Economic Development.

A decision to go ahead with the expansion could come from the company in 2020.

If approved, the $1.2bn expansion would include a world-scale monoethylene glycol (MEG) plant at the 841-acre complex in Ascension parish.

The company already produces 410,000 tonnes/year of MEG in Geismar, according to the ICIS Supply and Demand Database. It also started production at its fourth alpha olefins unit in January.

MEG is an intermediate in the production of polyester fibres and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle resins, and as an automotive antifreeze.

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