Expansions: Turkey’s Bayegan selects Lummus tech for PDH/PP complex; QatarEnergy/CPChem break ground on US$6 bn petchem project in Qatar

Process technologies provider Lummus Technology has announced an integrated technology award from Bayegan that will license Lummus' Catofin technology for a new 450 kilotonnes/year propane dehydrogenation (PDH) unit and Lummus' Novolen technology for a new 450 kilotonnes/year polypropylene (PP) unit.

The units will be located at Bayegan's complex in the Hatay Province of Türkiye, and will be Lummus' first integrated PDH and PP complex in the country.

"We are excited to partner with Bayegan on this critical investment, which will help Türkiye meet the market demand for high-quality polymers and reduce the country's dependance on polymer imports," said Romain Lemoine, Chief Business Officer of Polymers and Petrochemicals, Lummus Technology. "Integrating our Catofin and Novolen technologies will provide reliability and robustness, lower capital and operating expenses, environmental performance, flexibility and broad product capability and simple processes."

Lummus' scope includes the technology license for the PDH and PP technologies, basic design engineering, advisory services and training.

Once complete, the PDH unit will produce the propylene feedstock for the PP unit, which will produce semi-finished products for a broad spectrum of applications in the consumer and industrial markets.

Catofin is an industry-leading method for light paraffin dehydrogenation that delivers excellent annual production output compared to alternative technologies. The process operates at thermodynamically advantaged reactor pressure and temperature to maximise conversion of propane to propylene, while reducing investment and operating costs.

Part of Lummus' polymers portfolio, Novolen PP technology can deliver a sustainable route for polymers production, while maximising the financial benefits of operations through lower Capex and Opex, as claimed. The technology allows production a full grade slate of PP products of all product families, including homopolymers, random copolymers and terpolymers.

In other news, QatarEnergy and Chevron Phillips Chemical recently celebrated the commencement of construction of a US$6 billion integrated polymers complex in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar.

The 435-acre project site will include an ethane cracker with a capacity of 2,080 kilotonnes/year of ethylene, making it the largest ethane cracker in the Middle East and one of the largest in the world. It will also include two high-density polyethylene derivative units with a total capacity of 1,680 kilotonnes/year.

“This project advances CPChem’s long-held strategy to expand its operations in regions where feedstock is reliable and abundant and will help meet the global demand for polyethylene products," President/CEO Bruce Chinn said. “CPChem and QatarEnergy have a long history of safely building and operating petrochemical facilities, and this celebration represents the next step toward bringing these world-scale assets into our successful portfolio here in Qatar.”

The facility is designed to use modern, energy-saving technology, which along with other measures, is expected to result in lower greenhouse gas emissions intensity than similar global facilities.

The polyethylene units will use CPChem’s MarTech loop slurry process to produce high-density polyethylene, which will be primarily targeted for export from the state of Qatar.

Polyethylene is used in packaging applications for household cleaners, personal care products, food and medical supplies. It is also used in the production of durable goods and recreational products such as kayaks and coolers.

The project is being developed by a joint venture company owned 30% by CPChem and 70% by QatarEnergy. CPChem is providing project management services to oversee the engineering, procurement and construction of the facility. Site preparation began in June 2022, and startup is expected in late 2026.

CPChem and QatarEnergy successfully operate three joint ventures in Qatar – Qatar Chemical Company Ltd., Qatar Chemical Company II Ltd. and Ras Laffan Olefins Company. The two companies, through their Golden Triangle Polymers joint venture, are also building a similar integrated polymers facility in Orange, Texas.

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