Samsung Total completes PP expansion in S. Korea: adds 300,000 tpa polypropylene

17-Oct-07

Total has completed the expansion of its polypropylene plant at Daesan plant in South Korea. The new unit, with a capacity of 300,000 tpa, will bring the total polypropylene capacity of the plant to 554,000 tpa. A major expansion of the naphtha cracker has also been recently completed with the revamping of the associated downstream units. Completed within budget and schedule and with an excellent safety record, the expansion works have boosted the ethylene capacity of the cracker from 600,000 tpa to 820,000 tpa. Expansion has been successfully carried out at one styrene monomer unit, increasing capacity from 380,000 tpa to 600,000 tpa, including the conversion of the ethylbenzene section from gas to liquid phase, and incorporating energy-efficient multi-effect distillation in the purification section. The styrene production in the Daesan facility is currently 850,000 tpa. The expansion works on the naphtha cracker and styrene unit were completed at the end of May, and were brought on-line as planned in early June. The Samsung Total Petrochemicals joint-venture was created in April 2003, both partners, Total and Samsung, retaining a stake of 50%.