KUALA LUMPUR�BASF Petronas Chemicals Sdn. Bhd.�a 60-40 joint venture of Germany's BASF AG and Malaysian state oil company Petronas�announced Wednesday that its acrylic monomers complex in Kuantan, Malaysia, is fully operational.
The managing director of BASF Petronas Chemicals, Bernhard Nick, said that the acrylics complex is the first step towards attaining the company's goal of full integration in production processes.
The acrylics acid complex is the first major project to be completed at the integrated chemical site in Kuantan. The complex, which produces 160,000 tonnes/year of acrylic acid, comprises four plants: crude acrylic acid, butylacrylate, 2-ethylhexylacrylate, and glacial acrylic acid, said Nick in a statement to the state news agency Bernama.
Plants for the manufacture of oxo alcohols, synthesis gas, phthalic anhydride, plasticizers, butanediol, and formic acid also are under construction, said Nick.
Nick noted that the oxo alcohols and syngas complex is targeted for start-up in early 2001, while the butanediol complex and formic acid plants are scheduled to be completed in 2002. Total capital expenditure for the projects is estimated at $900 million.