Atofina to bring 395-km ethylene pipeline on stream in France

June 20, 2001
Atofina, the chemical division of TotalFinaElf SA, is about to bring a 395-km ethylene pipeline on stream in France linking the Viriat underground storage facilities near Lyon to the Carling petrochemical complex near Metz. The 100 million euro line will connect Carling to the petrochemical plants of South-Eastern France.


By an OGJ Online Correspondent

PARIS, June 20 -- Atofina, the chemical division of TotalFinaElf SA, is about to bring a 395-km ethylene pipeline on stream in France linking the Viriat underground storage facilities near Lyon to the Carling petrochemical complex near Metz.

The 100 million euro line, which forms part of Europe's largest ethylene transportation network, will provide Atofina with a transport link between northern and southern France. It will connect Carling to the petrochemical plants of southeastern France.

Atofina said the line would help Carling "optimize its capacities" with those of the Solvay Atofina cracker in Feyzin, near Lyon, as well as with Atofina-BP Chemical's Lavéra cracker and Royal Dutch/Shell Group's Berre cracker on the French Riviera.

Exchanges between petrochemical sites will have a total ethylene capacity of more 2 million tonnes/year, said Atofina.

With the pipeline on stream, Carling's ethylene capacity will rise to 570,000 tonnes/year by September from 480,000 tonnes/year.