Ineos Olefins & Polymers USA and Sasol broke ground today on their much anticipated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) manufacturing joint venture at the Ineos Battleground Manufacturing Complex in La Porte, Texas."This important step, among many, is a celebration of the efforts of Ineos and Sasol, and their respective teams, to realize the vision of a world-scale asset, facilitated by leading bimodal technology, for integration into both partners' upstream and downstream business platforms. This project represents not only a commitment to the bimodal HDPE market, but also a significant investment in the community in which the facility will operate," said Dennis Seith, CEO of Ineos Olefins & Polymers USA.
"We are delighted to be moving ahead on this important project which supports our North American growth strategy," said Fleetwood Grobler, executive vice president of Sasol's global chemicals business. "This state-of-the-art facility will be ideally located close to our existing and future ethane cracker and derivatives complex in Southwest Louisiana."
The facility will produce 470 kilotons per annum of bimodal HDPE using Innovene S process technology licensed from Ineos Technologies. The intention is to produce alimited number of grades allowing high grade efficiencies.
Ineos will operate the 50/50 Joint Venture. Start-up of the plant is expected in 2016.
