Curtis Williams
OGJ Correspondent
PORT OF SPAIN, Nov. 9 -- The world's largest methanol plant at Point Lisas, Trinidad, met its nameplate capacity of 5,000 tonnes/day in its 2 weeks of production, said officials at Methanol Holdings (Trinidad) Ltd.
The plant took 25 months to construct. The new facility makes Methanol Holdings the primary exporter of methanol to the US market and the second-largest methanol producer in the world, said company officials. KfW Bankengruppe financed the $550 million project.
Methanol Holdings operates five other plants that produce a total 4 million tonnes/year of methanol. More than 95% of that production is exported. The company is building a methanol plant in Oman that is expected to be completed by yearend.
CL Financial Ltd., a diversified conglomerate, is majority shareholder in Methanol Holdings, with 53%. Other shareholders include Ferrostall AG 27.5%, GE Capital's Latin American Fund 15%, and Helm AG, 4.5%.
