Restart of LyondellBasell’s steam cracker underway at La Porte, Texas

26-Jun-14

US olefins producer LyondellBasell is in the process of restarting its steam cracker in La Porte, Texas, as per market sources in Platts. The planned turnaround at the cracker, which has an ethylene production capacity of 1.7 billion lb/year, started in late March and was to be completed by June 20, though unforeseen issues pushed the startup procedures to late June. The startup activity coincided with a flaring notification left by the company on a community hotline. The turnaround also includes a planned capacity expansion; the company previously announced plans to increase La Porte's ethylene production capacity to 2.5 billion lb/year. A company spokeswoman did not confirm the startup event.