Plant Set-ups: Invista confirms ADN plant in China; Borouge moves forward with world’s largest FEED project in Ruwais

US polymer company Invista, a subsidiary of Koch Industries, and the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park (SCIP) recently signed a memorandum of cooperation in Shanghai for a 400,000-tonne adiponitrile (ADN) plant.

Engineering for the plant is underway at an estimated investment in excess of US$1 billion, with construction to start in 2020, and start-up expected to begin by 2022.

“With this memorandum of cooperation and a commitment to work toward an investment agreement, we are pleased to be taking the next step toward finalizing the investment and its location,” said Jeff Gentry, Invista Chairman/CEO.

“Shanghai is an attractive location in part due to the benefits of integrating the new facility into our existing HMD and polymer plants at SCIP. Furthermore, the cooperation and support we’ve received from the Shanghai government and SCIP to advance this project give us confidence that we can work together to meet future milestones.”

According to the memorandum of cooperation, Invista will advance its internal decision-making process for the project with strong support from the Shanghai government and SCIP, including commitment to intellectual property protections and joint efforts to execute an investment agreement.

ADN is the key ingredient in the production of nylon 6,6. Applications include engineered plastics, automotive airbag fabric, high-performance coatings and specialty apparel fibres.

In other news, UAE-based polymer firm Borouge, a joint venture between Austria’s Borealis and UAE’s ADNOC, has awarded TechnipFMC, Maire Tecnimont and WorleyParsons three major contracts for the fourth phase of the Ruwais, UAE, petrochemicals complex, which will include the world’s largest mixed feed cracker.

The mixed feed cracker will be the 4th cracker in the Borouge complex and will be the world’s largest with 1.8 million tonnes ethylene output. It will have overall capacity to produce 3.3 million tonnes of olefins and aromatics using a variety of feedstocks such as ethane, butane and naphtha coming from ADNOC’s refinery and gas processing facilities. Both ADNOC and Borealis intend to finalise the downstream configuration within three months, following the FEED award.

“The mixed feed cracker is unique as it enables many new petrochemical building blocks to be available in Ruwais for the first time, thereby transforming Ruwais into an even more advanced integrated refining and petrochemicals complex,” said Abdulaziz Alhajri, Executive Director, Downstream Directorate, ADNOC. “The new project will significantly contribute to achieving ADNOC’s growth ambitions as well as those of Borouge.”

The introduction of new and additional feedstocks and products to be produced by the plant supports the Abu Dhabi, Borouge and ADNOC 2030 strategies, by creating a platform for future industrial development and diversification of the economy and contributing to ensuring a more profitable downstream business, he added.

Alfred Stern, Borealis Chief Executive hailed the strong partnership and long successful history that Borealis has with ADNOC at Borouge. He underlined Borealis’ continuous support to Borouge in setting up the huge downstream polyolefin’s production plants that will be based on the Borstar technology.

“The mixed feed cracker is not only a new milestone in Borouge’s history, it is also a new step forward in Borealis’ growth strategy in the Middle East. The project, which reflects the strength of our strong partnership with ADNOC, ideally embodies Borealis’ commitment and willingness to continue contributing to the development of the UAE through Borouge.”

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