Polyethylene engineering design project in China

Aker Kvaerner has signed a contract with PetroChina International Company for the basic engineering design and supply of certain equipment for a new full density polyethylene plant

Aker Kvaerner has signed a contract with PetroChina International Company for the basic engineering design and supply of certain equipment for a new full density polyethylene plant at the Dushanzi complex in Xinjiang province, People's Republic of China.

Aker Kvaerner will provide the basic engineering design, together with offshore equipment and material supply, from its offices in the Netherlands and China.

Dushanzi is an integrated ethylene cracking complex with downstream facilities for the production of a wide range of polymer products.

The new full density polyethylene (FDPE) plant consists of two lines each with a capacity of 300,000 tonnes per annum (tpa).

The project, to be executed on a fast-track basis, will commence this month.

Plant start-up is expected in September 2008.

The FDPE plant will make use of Univation UNIPOL polyethylene technology, one of the core technologies in the Aker Kvaerner process portfolio.

"This is the fourth polyolefin project to be awarded to Aker Kvaerner this year," says Wim van der Zande, president of AK Process, the Aker Kvaerner European Process business: "We are very pleased to be involved in this project.

Our selection reflects the strong track record we possess in working with this leading edge technology, together with the vast experience we have accumulated on projects throughout China.

Given the challenges associated with transportation and winter weather conditions, our project execution methodology will be a decisive factor in helping us to play our part in achieving this fast track schedule".

The success of the UNIPOL PE process, which involves production of polyethylene in a low pressure gas phase reactor, places Univation among the world leaders in polyethylene technology.

The total number of UNIPOL PE lines either installed or under construction around the world is now approaching 100.

Of these, 18 have been designed and/ or built by Aker Kvaerner, making the company one of the most experienced UNIPOL PE contractors in the industry.

Back to top