Inglesid Ethylene, LLC, a joint venture between Occidental Chemical (OxyChem) and Mexichem started construction of their ethylene cracker at OxyChem’s Ingleside, Texas complex.
The partners say the project remains on schedule to become commercially operational in the first quarter of 2017.
Senior management from both companies participated in a ceremony to celebrate the symbolic groundbreaking of the new ethylene cracker.
When completed, the cracker will have a capacity to produce 1.2 billion pounds or 550,000 cubic meters of ethylene per year.
The cracker will provide OxyChem with an ongoing source of ethylene for manufacturing vinyl chloride monomer (VCM).
This VCM in turn will be used by Mexichem to produce polyvinyl chloride (PVC resin) and PVC piping systems.
“The project will create approximately 1,700 jobs at peak construction, generate more than 150 permanent jobs and OxyChem will operate the cracker upon completion,” the partners said.
“The ethylene cracker enables us to capitalize on the advantages that shale gas presents for the chemical industry and help us both to better compete globally,” Robert Peterson, president of OxyChem said.
Antonio Carrillo, CEO at Mexichem said, “The joint venture is a vital part of our strategy to become a global vertically integrated specialty chemicals company with a focus on high-end products.”
“Once operational, this cracker will provide a steady supply of ethylene, a key raw material for many of our most important products,” he added.
