Maoming completes expansion of ethylene capacity

Sinopec Maoming Refining  Chemical Co., a unit of China Petroleum Chemical Corp. (Sinopec), said it has started operations at an expanded ethylene plant in Guangdong province ahead of schedule. The facility is the country’s largest ethylene production base. Sinopec Maoming expanded ethylene production capacity to 1 million tons from 360,000 tons, with a total investment of RMB8.1 billion (US$1.02 billion), the company said. A 640,000-ton-per-year ethylene cracker, one of the major units installed during the expansion project, has started full operations, it said. The plant is expected to increase Sinopec Maoming’s revenue by more than RMB15 billion(US$1.90 billion) to more than RMB70 billion (US$8.86 billion) annually. (September 19, 2006)