By the OGJ Online Staff
HOUSTON, May 3 -- Atlantic Methanol Production Co. LLC has begun production of commercial grade methanol at Bioko Island of Equatorial Guinea.
Project partners Noble Affiliates Inc., Houston, CMS Energy Corp., Dearborn, Mich., and the Equatorial Guinea government said Thursday the AMPCO plant is continuing its startup testing to verify contractor performance guarantees.
Noble and CMS each own 45% in AMPCO, which owns the plant. The government of Equatorial Guinea holds 10% interest.
The gas comes from Alba block, operated by CMS Oil and Gas Co., Houston. CMS has 52% and Noble 34% of the field.
The plant converts gas into methanol for export into the world market. At full capacity, the plant is expected to convert more than 100 MMcfd into 2,500 tonnes/day of methanol.
Rodney D. Cook, Noble�s manager of international operations and vice chairman of AMPCO�s management committee said the first lifting is expected by the end of May.
�This would result in the first AMPCO produced methanol reaching the commercial market by mid to late June 2001,� Cook said.
AMPCO took delivery earlier this year of two 45,000-dwt methanol tankers chartered from Mitsui OSK Lines. These ships will deliver methanol to AMPCO�s customers in the US and Europe. The plant�s output is fully subscribed for the rest of the year.