By the OGJ Online Staff
HOUSTON, Feb. 18 -- Shell Chemicals Canada Ltd., Montreal, Monday announced a contract with SGF Chimie to form a 50/50 limited partnership to build and operate a polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) plant near Montreal.
Shell described the project as the world's first world-scale plant for production of the thermoplastic polymer.
The partnership will be called PTT Poly Canada, and project value is estimated at more than $100 million. The primary focus for the new plant will be the North American carpet market.
The facility is expected to begin operation by the fourth quarter of 2003. The capacity will be 95,000 tonnes/year. The plant will use proprietary technology developed by a Shell affiliate and Zimmer AG, which will be licensed to the partnership. A Shell affiliate also will provide sales and marketing services.
The primary feedstocks for PTT are 1,3-propanediol (PDO) and purified terephthalic acid (PTA). The PTA will come from a $700 million (Can.) SGF-Interquisa plant being built nearby. A Shell affiliate will supply PDO from its Geismar, La., plant.
The project will receive $15 million from provincial government investment agency Investissement Quebec, including a $5 million loan.
SGF Chimie is a subsidiary of the Ste. Generale de Financement du Quebec,whose mission is to implement economic development projects in cooperation with partners. Since its restructuring in 1998, SGF has generated investments of $7.5 billion.
