The project involves doubling capacity at the PP plant in addition to adding capacity for the production of small quantities of impact co-polymers. Two other groups are competing for the award.

The plant provides raw materials for textiles manufactured by OPC's sister company, the Oriental Weavers Group, and is being developed to accommodate new propylene feedstock from a planned propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant, to be developed by OPC in partnership with National Investment Bank(NIB)and the Egyptian Petrochemicals Company (ECHEM). Toyo is also bidding with Samsung Corporationof South Korea for the estimated $225 million PDH plant, which will be developed alongside the 350,000-t/y PP plant in the new Suez industrial zone.

The other bidders for the contract are Lurgiof Germany, which along with the Toyo/Samsung group is expected to use technology licensed by UOPof the US, and Germany's Linde, which is understood to have proposed its own technology for the scheme. Technical and commercial evaluation of bids is expected to be completed by the end of February (Cover Story, MEED 30:9:02).