Qatofin’s US$1.2 bln linear low-density polyethylene plant inaugurated at Mesaieed

27-Nov-09

Qatofin’s US$1.2 bln world-scale linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) plant with capacity to produce 450,000 tpa has been inaugurated at Mesaieed. The plant, located at the Qapco site, will have capacity to process 422,000 tpa of ethylene and 38,000 tpa of butane-1. Butane-1 will be supplied by Q-Chem II under a long-term supply agreement. Qatofin will supply to Q-Chem II the 40,000 tpa of ethylene required to produce such quantities of butane-1. The ethane feedstock for the plant will be supplied from Ras Laffan Olefins. Qatofin is a joint venture between Qapco (63%), Total Petrochemicals (36%) and QP (1%). When the plant attains 100% run rates by February 2010, Qatar is set to become a major exporter LLDPE. Qatar already produces low density polyethylene (LDPE) through Qapco and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) through Q-Chem, both based in Mesaieed.