Borouge study nears completion

31 October 2003
A feasibility study is due to be completed in November on the proposed expansion of the Abu Dhabi Polymers Company (Borouge)complex at Ruwais. The study, which is being undertaken by the US' Parsons Corporation, Borouge and its foreign partner, Copenhagen-based Borealis, covers two potential projects: a major debottlenecking of existing polyethylene capacity; and the construction of a new ethylene cracker with downstream derivative units.

The debottlenecking of Borouge's PE capacity has long been planned, given that the Ruwais complex produces 150,000 tonnes a year (t/y ) of surplus ethylene, which is exported. At present, PE nameplate capacity stands at 450,000 t/y but the idea is to raise this to 600,000 t/y, to match the cracker output.

The proposed new cracker is expected to have capacity of about 1.2 million t/y. The project is being considered in light of additional ethane feedstock becoming available in 2007 with the commissioning of the third phase of the onshore gas development (OGD-3) and the second phase of the Asab gas development (AGD-2).

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