Thai IRPC to complete expansion project

Thailand’s IRPC Public Co. Ltd. plans to proceed with a 100,000 metric ton per year (mtpy) propylene expansion project at Map Ta Phut that is slated for completion in May 2011, despite the global economic slowdown, a company source said. The project is expected to cost 50 million baht (US$1.43 million) and will raise IRPC’s propylene capacity to 412,000 mtpy. The company produces propylene from a steam cracker and currently supplements its propylene production with purchases in order to make polypropylene. Although the company’s steam cracker now has a propylene nameplate capacity of 312,000 mtpy, the plant can exceed this by 11%, and was able to produce nearly 350,000 mtpy of propylene in 2007. (November 17, 2008)