BP and JBF Group Agree to Build New Co-located PET Facility in Geel, Belgium
BP has entered into agreements with JBF RAK LLC under which JBF RAK LLC is to build a new 390,000 tonne per year polyethylene terephthalate (PET) production unit in Geel, Belgium, subject to required approvals.
The agreements provide JBF rights to build and operate this PET unit on BP’s existing petrochemicals complex in Geel, adjacent to BP’s world-class purified terephthalic acid (PTA) facility. BP will in return supply PTA directly to this new PET manufacturing unit. Startup of the unit is scheduled in 2014.
Frédéric Baudry, Vice-President for BP Petrochemicals Europe said: “We are delighted that JBF has decided to invest in Geel. This new PET plant leverages BP’s scale, technology and location advantages at Geel to deliver a competitively integrated PX-PTA-PET manufacturing complex in Europe. Such a complex will help maintain and develop BP’s position in the region and underpins BP’s long term commitment to its merchant customers.”
Patrick Van Acker, Manufacturing Director of BP Geel, said: “This agreement demonstrates that our region can attract significant investments by looking for synergies with foreign investors. Moreover, by avoiding unnecessary PTA transportation in the PET supply chain and by reducing the corresponding environmental impact, we create a sustainable and long term anchorage for PTA and PET production in Geel.” BP in Geel belongs to the BP group of companies. The company in Geel employs more than 400 people.
BP in Geel produces paraxylene and PTA. Paraxylene is the main raw material to produce PTA. In Europe, PTA is mainly used to make PET. Worldwide PTA’s main use is in the manufacture of polyester.
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