Map Ta Phut Petrochemical Complex Commission in 2010

Map Ta Phut Olefins, a new venture by Thai producer Siam Cement Group which is now in heavy construction of its benzene, toluene and mixed xylenes (BTX) facility will be starting up the petrochemical complex in the second-half of 2010 which is integrated with its new naphtha cracker.

The naphtha cracker has an ethylene capacity of 900,000 tonnes/year and 400,000 tonnes/year of aromatics. This is an addition to its existing facility produces 190,000 tonnes/year of benzene and 90,000 tonnes/year of toluene.

Thailand Bisphenol-A Chemical Plant By PTT

Thailand PTT’s has decided to invest in a $250 million bisphenol A (BPA) petrochemical plant which has a capacity of 150,000 tonne/year of BPA at Mab Ta Phut, Rayong.

Construction is expected to complete in the third quarter of 2010. Upon completion, the bisphenol-A plant will use 128,000 tonnes of phenol and 41,000 tonnes of acetone as feedstocks each year which will be supplied by joint venture PTT Phenol having annual capacity of phenol and acetone of 200,000 tonnes and 125,000 tonnes respectively.

Japanese Plastic Maker, Ube Investing in Thailand

As much as $118millions will be spent from Ube Group, Japanese engineering plastics maker to expand its petrochemical plants capacity. Ube Group plans to add a second nylon plant in Rayong to triple its annual capacity to 75,000 tonnes/year. Construction is expected to complete in October 2009.

The company's caprolactam capacity will also be boosted to 130,000 tonnes from 110,000 tonnes in 2010. The whole revamp is expected to raise its annual ammonium sulphate output by 80,000 tonnes to 520,000 tonnes.

The Japanese maker is also currently studying a 1,6-hexanediol project with capacity of 6,000 tonne/year plant for completion in 2011.

Thailand's ACN and MMA Chemical Plants High Cost by Asahi Kasei

Asahi Kasei Chemical's Joint Venture to build ACN (Acrylonitrile) and MMA (Methyl Methacrylate) unit in Mab Ta Phut in Rayong, Thailand costs have increased to $760m. The project is expected to start commercial production by 2010, after several construction cost hikes. The JV includes PTT Asahi Chemical Company (PTTAC), of 48.5% share and another 3% by Marubeni Corp.

Siam Cement & Dow Chemicals Cracker Project at Mab Ta Phut On Schedule

Siam Cement and Dow Chemical new joint-venture for 900,000 tonne/year capacity cracker project in Mab Ta Phut, Thailand is on track to start up in the second half of 2010 despite concerns that the project schedule affected by a recent dispute between Mab Ta Phut residents and government officials over environmental concerns which could turn the site into a “pollution-control” zone.

Siam Cement/Dow Chemicals had already started construction with erection on piling work for the new complex including a new naphtha cracker is on progress. The cracker survives on imported naphtha, as much as 85% for the feedstock.

The economics for the project was uplifted by a value-added downstream integration including propylene oxide (PO) and specialty elastomers through Dow Chemicals. Planned specialty elastomers plant will produce AFFINITY Polyolefin Plastomers and ENGAGE Polyolefin Elastomers for packaging and automotive thermoplastic applications. It was also estimated that as much as 50% savings from construction cost can be achieved as compared to Middle East.

Thailand Selling E20 Gasohol

Thailand has started selling its E20 Gasohol, a 20% ethanol - gasoling blending, replacing MTBE. E20 is cheaper than regular gasoline in Thailand and large gasoline blenders like Shell and PTT are both offering E20 grades at some of their pump stations. E20 Gasohol (Gasoline-Ethanol) is cheaper than regular methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) blended gasoline due to Thailand's government subsidy.

Many newer Japanese and European cars should be able to tolerate E20 which is a 20% blending of ethanol as opposed to earlier version of E10, using 10% blending of ethanol. Thailand has a strong policy towards biofuels and widespread use of ethanol blended gasoline has been seen in the starting with B2, a 2% biodiesel blend in petroleum diesel.

Thai Paraxylene Completing Debottlenecking

Thai Paraxylene, a company owned by Thai Oil will complete its debottlenecking project of paraxylene (PX) at Sri Rancha by this April with an increase in capacity from 348,000 tonnes/year to 490,000 tonnes/year. The paraxylene feedstock is sourced from Thai Oil, which operates a 270,000 bbl/day refinery at the same Sri Racha site.

B2 Biodiesel Starts Selling in Thailand

B2 Biodiesel, a 2% biodiesel blending has started selling in Thailand in February upon Thailand's government approval. The biodiesel includes government subsidy in which it will be sold at cheaper price than regular diesel at 0.80 Baht/ litre cheaper.

Bangkok's major diesel sellers including Shell, PTT and Bangchak will be selling B2, making it available nationwide. The market price for B2 will be tied to feedstock palm oil price.

B2 is seen as major advancement in Thailand's policy towards green environment as the country has already used E10, a 10% blend of ethanol after the ban of MTBE for gasoline blending which includes government subsidy. The ethanol mostly comes from tapioca and sugarcane in Thailand. The government policy has helped bringing up biodiesel companies in Thailand, some includes Thai Oleochemicals Co, with biodiesel plant capacity includes a 200 ktpa of palm methyl ester (PME), or palm biodiesel.

Petrochemical Plant: Epichlorohydrin Plant in Thailand

Thailand is planning to build an epichlorohydrin plant. The epichlorohydrin plant was considered as "green friendly" chemical plant with total cost in the range of $200 million using Solvay's technology.

The EPH plant would be able to produce 100 ktpa epichlorohydrin for epoxy resin production. The green friendly chemical plant tagname comes from the feedstock for the plant which will use 110 ktpa of glycerin as the raw materials, a renewable source from biodiesel by-products.

The step was seen by analysts as a good venture into not only renewable petrochemicals for Thailand but also expanding Mab Ta Phut petrochemical complex. Solvay is ranked no four as world's largest producer of ephicholorohydrin.