Engineering progresses on Nigeria natural gas-to-polymers complex

Feb. 7, 2003
UOP LLC, Des Plains, Ill., said it has started the basic engineering design for a methanol-to-olefins (MTO) unit as part of a natural gas-to-polymers project for Nigeria.

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, Feb. 7 -- UOP LLC, Des Plains, Ill., said it has started the basic engineering design for a methanol-to-olefins (MTO) unit as part of a natural gas-to-polymers project for Nigeria.

Eurochem Technologies Corp. Pte. Ltd., Singapore, will be the plant owner-operator. UOP and Norsk Hydro ASA, Oslo, developed the technology called UOP/Hydro MTO, UOP reported. UOP's contract is with Eurochem Technologies, which has yet to develop bids from engineering, procurement, and construction contractors.

The project will use natural gas to produce 400,000 tonnes/year of high-density polyethylene and 400,000 tonnes/year of polypropylene. The complex at Ibeju Lekki, 65 km east of Lagos, is expected to come on stream in 2006.

Plans call for the complex to include a methanol unit to convert natural gas into methanol, an MTO unit to convert methanol into ethylene and propylene, and polyolefin units to convert ethylene and propylene into polyethylene and polypropylene.

Nigeria offers vast reserves of underutilized natural gas and demand for polyolefin products, UOP said.