BP-led joint venture proposes Chinese acetate esters plant

Sept. 26, 2000
BP said Monday that its Yangtze River Acetyls Co. Ltd. (YARACO) joint venture has submitted a feasibility study to the Chongqing Municipal government for a project to produce acetate esters in China.


BP said Monday that its Yangtze River Acetyls Co. Ltd. (YARACO) joint venture has submitted a feasibility study to the Chongqing Municipal government for a project to produce acetate esters in China.

The proposed plant will have a capacity of 80,000 tonnes/year of ethyl and butyl acetate. BP said it would be the largest production facility for these products in China. If all goes well, BP expects the plant to be commissioned during the first half of 2002.

The plant will be located in Chuanwei, Chongqing, and fully integrated into the existing YARACO 200,000-tonne/year acetic acid facility in Chongqing, said BP. That facility was completed in November 1998.

The proposed plant will supply the growing Chinese esters market and substitute imports, said BP, which also said it believes the new facility will play an active role in promoting economic development in western China.

The YARACO joint venture, formed in December 1995, is comprised of BP unit BP Chemicals, 51%; Sinopec Sichuan Vinylon Works, a unit of Sinopec Corp., 44%; and Chongqing Investment & Construction Co., 5%.