INEOS Phenol realizes another phenol/acetone capacity expansion at Mobile
With another expansion of its phenol and acetone plant in Mobile, Alabama, INEOS Phenol strengthens its position in these markets. The current expansion from a most recent name plate capacity of 500 kt/a phenol to a current 540 kt/a has been realized over the past several months and is already fully operational at this time. Simultaneously, a capacity of now 330 kt/a acetone has been achieved in this one-train facility.
The expansion of the Antwerp, Belgium, plant is on track to be operational towards the end of Q3/2006. The expected overall capacity of 680 kt/a phenol will be achieved by expanding one of the two trains there rather than by adding a third one. This approach provides the opportunity for another similar expansion of more than 200 kt/a in the future without adding complexity to the plant.
In addition to increasing phenol and acetone capacity, INEOS Phenol actively secures its feedstock by backward integrating into cumene. The most recent acquisition of the idled cumene plant from CPChem is a case in point. The plant will be restarted and tested over the next weeks and months and will then provide cumene derived from economically attractive refinery grade propylene.
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