LyondellBasell delays start-up of expanded production at La Porte ethylene plant

30-Jul-14

LyondellBasell has delayed the start-up of expanded production at its ethylene plant in La Porte, Tex., until later this year, as per OGJ Online. A mechanical issue with a compressor at the plant was partially to blame for the extended turnaround at La Porte, as per the company. The revised timeline for the newly expanded plant project, which was scheduled to begin production this summer resulted from a delay in the completion of extensive scheduled maintenance at the La Porte plant during the second quarter. The company expects to begin production from its 800 million lb/year La Porte ethylene during this year’s third quarter. While the company said its third-quarter earnings would be negatively impacted by the delayed start-up at La Porte, it did not disclose a firm date for when production at the plant would begin. The La Porte project is the first of three ethylene expansions LyondellBassel has under way, which include projects at its plants in Channelview and Corpus Christi, Tex., all of which are benefitting from rising North American shale gas production