Shell expects restart of 900,000 tpa ethylene steam cracker at Moerdijk by year-end

30-Jan-15

Shell expects the 900,000 tpa ethylene steam cracker at Moerdijk in the Netherlands to be back in operation by year-end, as per Argus Media. The shutdown, which had a major impact on chemical earnings in the fourth quarter, was initially estimated to last until the end of Q3-2015. The cracker was shut down in October following a steam leak. Derivative units for production of styrene monomer, propylene oxide and ethylene oxide have already restarted using feedstock from other sources. The Moerdijk shutdowns are unprecedented in Shell's recent history. The company's chemical plant availability was just 65% in the fourth quarter, the lowest in any quarter since at least 2007, and well below the next lowest figure of 86% which occurred in the aftermath of the financial crisis in the third quarter of 2008. For the full year, availability fell to 85% from 92% in 2013. With the Moerdijk cracker out for most of the year, Shell predicts an 80% availability for 2015.