Braskem-Idesa selects Lupotech T technology for plant in Mexico. Process will be used at the LDPE unit of the XXI Ethylene project.Braskem-Idesa, a joint venture between the Brazilian petrochemical producer Braskem and the Mexican group Idesa, took another important step towards the development of the Ethylene XXI project in Mexico. The JV selected the Lupotech T process technology of the Dutch company LyondellBasell for the 300 kt LDPE (low density polyethylene) plant, which is one of the three polyethylene plants of the Mexico project, with start up slated for 2015. The industrial unit will be built in the region of the Coatzacoalcos/Nanchital Petrochemical Complexes in the state of Veracruz.
Braskem-Idesa believes the choice will provide important benefits for the project, since Lupotech T technology allows for the production of a wide range of polyethylene with various melt flow indexes and provides excellent optical and mechanical properties. "The Lupotech T process technology will enable us to be a strong competitor in the U.S. market. With this technology, we will be the leader in terms of production costs and offer a more extensive product portfolio," said Braskem-Idesa’s CEO Roberto Bischoff.
The Lupotech T technology is owned by the Dutch company LyondellBasell and is the most widely used process in high-pressure units, which will guarantee the best possible performance for the investment. This will be the first license for a tubular LDPE plant in Mexico and the Americas in over 20 years.
With the definition of this phase of the process, Braskem-Idesa concludes the selection of the polyethylene technologies for the project, which will feature one 300 kt/year LDPE plant and two HDPE (high density polyethylene) plants using INEOS technology with combined capacity of 750 kt/year. The plants will be fully integrated with an ethylene production using ethane gas as feedstock that has production capacity of 10,500 kt/year. The basic engineering works for the LDPE plant were initiated early this month in Germany and Italy, and when it enters into operations, the plant will be the largest of its type in the Americas.
