Start-up process for ExxonMobil's ethylene cracker plant delayed

Start-up process for ExxonMobil's ethylene cracker plant delayed
By Millet Enriquez | Posted: 20 June 2011 2326 hrs

SINGAPORE : The start-up process for ExxonMobil's ethylene cracker plant in Jurong Island is delayed and is now pushed back to early 2012.

Initially projected to begin operations this year, ExxonMobil said it now anticipates mechanical completion and start-up activities of other new facilities to come in phases through 2011 and 2012.

In a statement sent to MediaCorp, the US oil giant said safety is its top priority and it is focusing on a "disciplined" execution of the start process - citing the scale, complexity and inter-dependence of the units required for the project.

In the meantime, ExxonMobil said major polymer units - such as the specialty elastomers, the polyethylene and polypropylene plants - have been mechanically completed and commissioning activities have also started.

"We anticipate commissioning and start-up activities of the new downstream units to occur in phases through 2011 and 2012," ExxonMobil said.

ExxonMobil's petrochemical complex consists of a world scale steam cracker and associated units, which include polyethylene, polypropylene and specialty elastomer plants.

The cracker has the capacity to produce 1 million tonnes of ethylene per year.

- CNA/ms

- wong chee tat :)