Nigeria's multibillion dollar Eleme petrochemical complex is scheduled to produce its first batch of polymer resins by midyear.
Work on processing units, associated utilities, and offsite facilities, more than 98% complete, is targeted for completion very soon. Test runs will follow for the complex being built and operated by state owned Nigerian National Petroleum Co. near Port Harcourt.
The Eleme project, fed by natural gas liquids, is being carried out in three phases. First phase involves production of 400,000 metric tons/year of ethylene, 126,000 tons/year of propylene, 20,000 tons/year of butane, 250,000 tons/year if linear low density and high density polyethylene, and 80,000 tons/year of polypropylene.
When on stream by mid 1994, the first phase of the complex is expected to meet growing domestic demand for polypropylene and polyethylene resins, which is currently being met solely by imports.
The second phase entails construction of processing units to produce two major grades of polyester resins. The third phase calls for units to produce polyvinyl chloride resins. Timetable for the latter two phases has not been determined.
In planning since 1974, the project has been dogged by financing problems and doubts about economic feasibility, with the major construction contracts let in late 1990 and start up then projected for 1993 (OGJ, Dec. 3, 1990, p. 37).
