The complex will include: an ethane cracker with capacity of at least 300,000 tonnes a year (t/y); a 300,000-t/y high-density polyethylene (HDPE) unit; and a 80,000-t/y polypropylene (PP) unit. A 200,000-t/y cracker was originally planned, but the plans were upgraded as a result of requests by potential bidders to raise capacity by at least 100,000 t/y. The complex is due for completion in 2006.

The project will be fed by associated gas and propane from the Ilam gas field. The Ilam complex is expected to be the largest petrochemicals project to go for tender this year. The client is NPC.

EPC tenders are also to be issued imminently for the Kharg Island petrochemicals complex. The project, involving the installation of new methanol and ammonia units at the complex, was originally tendered as an engineering and procurement project. Paris-based Technip-Coflexipwon the contract for the main package - the 500,000-t/y ethane cracker - in March (MEED 28:3:03).