SPANISH DOWNSTREAM INDUSTRY EXPANDING

Jan. 15, 1990
Spain continues to attract a considerable amount of spending in refining and petrochemicals. State owned Repsol SA and E. I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co. are studying construction of two major petrochemical plants with a combined value of about $2 billion. Work has started on two other plants, and plans have been disclosed for still two more units.

Spain continues to attract a considerable amount of spending in refining and petrochemicals.

State owned Repsol SA and E. I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co. are studying construction of two major petrochemical plants with a combined value of about $2 billion.

Work has started on two other plants, and plans have been disclosed for still two more units.

The Du Pont project consists of a $1.2 billion complex for the production of engineering polymers, special fibers, and other petrochemical materials at Asturias in northern Spain. Most of the production will be exported to other parts of the European Community.

Repsol plans to spend $600-700 million to build a 400,000 metric ton/year steam cracker and associated petrochemical units at Cartagena on the Spanish Mediterranean coast, where the company operates a 100,000 b/d refinery.

Hispavic Industrial SA, a Spanish joint venture between Belgium's Solvay & Cie. and Britain's ICI, plans to boost polyvinyl chloride capacity at its Martorell, Barcelona, plant to 175,000 tons/year from 130,000 tons/year.

In other petrochemical action, Dow Chemical Iberica SA started construction of a 150,000 ton/year linear low density polyethylene plant at its Tarragona, Spain, complex.

The $80 million unit, due to go on stream by mid-1991, will export most of its production to other parts of the EC.

In refining, Cia. Espanola de Petroleos SA plans to build aromatics and unleaded gasoline units at its San Roque complex in southern Spain.

The two plants, to cost a total of $70 million, will have a combined capacity of 35,000 b/d. Start-up is scheduled for early 1991.

Repsol Petroleo SA is building a 500,000 ton/year desulfurizer at its Puertollano refinery in central Spain. The unit is scheduled to start up early this year.

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