BP and JBF RAK have signed agreements to construct a new polyethylene terephthalate (PET) production facility in Geel, Belgium.
Under the terms of the agreements, JBF RAK has been provided the rights to construct and operate the unit at BP’s petrochemicals facility in Geel. BP will deliver purified terephthalic acid (PTA) to the PET facility.
The new production facility will have a capacity to produce 390,000 t of PET per year and the operation will commence in 2014. BP in Geel is a part of the BP group and it manufactures PTA and paraxylene. PTA is significantly used in Europe to produce PET and paraxylene is a key ingredient to manufacture PTA. Major global application of PTA is for polyester production.
BP Petrochemicals Europe’s VP, Frédéric Baudry commented that the new PET manufacturing unit enhances BP’s technology and location benefits at Geel to provide an integrated PX-PTA-PET production complex in Europe. The complex will help to continue and strengthen the company’s position in Geel and its long-term commitment to customers.
Patrick Van Acker, BP Geel’s Manufacturing Director, stated that the agreements with JBF RAK represents that the region can attract major investments. In addition, BP Geel creates a long term and sustainable solution for manufacturing PET and PTA in Geel by eliminating unnecessary PTA shipping and associated environmental impact.