Page 170 - CW E-Magazine (16-4-2024)

News from Abroad

EXPANSION
Kuraray plans new ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer

plant in Singapore

Japan’s Kuraray has announced
plans to boost production capacity for its
EVAL branded ethylene vinyl alcohol
copolymer (EVOH) resin with a new
facility in Singapore. The company plans
to put up the new plant inside Kuraray
Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. in Jurong Island.
The proposed plant aims to have a pro-
duction capacity of 18-ktpa and is likely
to begin operations by the end of 2026.

The front-end process will have a
capacity of 36-ktpa with possible future company expects to have a combined blocks gases such as oxygen and pre-
expansion. In addition, the back-end pro- total capacity of 131-ktpa. The compa- vents food deterioration and contri-
cess will have two phases, with the first ny’s other EVAL sites are in Japan, Ant- butes to the reduction of food loss. In
phase being implemented at this time. werp (Belgium), and Houston (US). The addition, its applications also include
The approximate investment amount company also has expansion plans ongo- industrial fields such as vacuum insu-
is around $410-mn. The new facility ing in Europe and Americas. lation panels, under-floor heating pipes,
planned in Singapore will be able to meet and automotives. Demand for EVAL
the growing demand in the Asian mar- According to Kuraray, EVAL resin resin has been increasing because its
ket. Moreover, it will also strengthen the was developed by the company and barrier material does not disrupt the
global supply chain. In addition, this will commercialised in 1972 and is a func- recycling streams of polyolefins. The
also enhance Kuraray’s technical service tional resin with the highest level of gas company expects demand to increase
in the region. As soon as the planned barrier properties. It is widely used in further globally, particularly in Europe
Singapore plant starts operations in 2026, the food packaging applications because it and the US.

ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY LICENSING
KBR licenses ammonia technology to Egyptian

fertiliser project; bags Petro Rabigh contract

American engineering & techno- energy-efficient and reliable solution it has secured a five-year asset condition
logy firm, KBR, has announced that for ammonia producers. Furthermore, monitoring programme contract from
its Purifier ammonia technology was with a lower carbon footprint compared Rabigh Refining Petrochemical Com-
selected by Wuhuan Engineering Co. Ltd. to other more conventional ammonia pany (Petro Rabigh) to deploy predic-
for the expansion of El Nasr Company technologies, KBR’s Purifier ammonia tive maintenance services at its plant in
for Intermediate Chemicals’ (NCIC) process helps customers meet their Rabigh, Saudi Arabia. The programme
fertiliser complex in Egypt. sustainability goals in a cost-effective will optimise asset lifecycle, enhance
manner,” said Mr. Jay Ibrahim, Presi- machinery performance, and improve
Under the terms of the contract, dent, KBR Sustainable Technology overall reliability. “KBR’s predictive
KBR will provide the technology Solutions. maintenance services improve ope-
license, proprietary engineering design rational efficiency and align with the
and proprietary equipment for NCIC’s Predictive maintenance services clients’ ESG objectives by promoting
1,200-tpd (tonnes per day) ammonia contract sustainability and responsible resource
plant. “KBR’s Purifier process is an In another development, KBR said management,” said Mr. Ibrahim.

170 Chemical Weekly April 16, 2024

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