Basell Hires Engineer for Polypropylene Conversions in Louisiana

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Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Incorporated; Houston, Texas). Basell (Hoofddorp, Netherlands) is preparing an Authorization for Expenditure (AFE) request for corporate review and pursuing the approval of its plans to expand polypropylene production capacity at its Lake Charles, Louisiana plant site (PEC 02004830; Plant 1018373).

S&B Engineers & Constructors Limited (Houston, Texas) has been selected by Basell to complete the preliminary design and engineering for this estimated $40 million project.

Basell is planning to convert three of four polyethylene lines that were mothballed early last year to produce approximately 225,000 metric tons per year polypropylene using Spherizone Catalloy process technology, see January 9, 2003 IIR Industry Alert: Stability in the Polypropylene Market Drives Basell to Expand.

Producers of polypropylene are beginning to realize significant improvements in demand that are expected to continue improving in coming years both domestically and internationally. For details see June 17, 2003 IIR Industry Alert: Polypropylene Producers Plan New Capacity for International and Domestic Markets.

Basell was established in October 2000. They are the world's largest producer of polypropylene with manufacturing facilities located in eighteen countries. Polyethylene and advanced polyolefin materials are other products produced by Basell.