PetroChina Taps Innovative Polyethylene Technology from LyondellBasell

ROTTERDAM, [the Netherlands]: LyondellBasell announced today that their leading high-pressure Lupotech process technology has been licensed to PetroChina Jilin Petrochemical Company in Jilin City, Jilin Province, P.R. of China. The license will provide for two production trains: a 100 kiloton per year (KTA) Autoclave and a 300 KTA Tubular line for low-density Polyethylene (LDPE) with ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer (EVA). In addition, an additional 400 KTA Hostalen “Advanced Cascade Process” (ACP) line to produce high-density Polyethylene (HDPE) will be built at the same time.

“We are pleased to be able to license additional LyondellBasell Polyethylene technology in this project as PetroChina Jilin Petrochemical Company is an important existing licensee with whom we have had a long and successful history,” stated Neil Nadalin, Director Global Licensing and Services at LyondellBasell. Nadalin added: “The newly added lines will include our state-of-the-art high-pressure Lupotech technology as well as our multi-modal HDPE technology enabling PetroChina to produce differentiated Polyethylene resins”.

“We are very satisfied with the first Hostalen unit running on our site in China, and we are excited to add a new multi-modal HDPE line using the Hostalen ACP technology, stated Mr. Han Zhiqun, Chief Engineer of PetroChina Jilin. “Furthermore, we are eager to expand our future product portfolio into differentiated low-density Polyethylene resins by applying the LyondellBasell Lupotech Autoclave and Tubular processes. This newly added capacity will help us to foster our ambitions in supporting the global energy transition in being able to best serve the solar panel lamination and encapsulant market."

Plant operators worldwide know that LyondellBasell's Lupotech process is the go-to choose for high pressure application design. This technology ensures reliable performance and higher conversion rates than other available options, with effective process heat integration for long-term energy efficiency. To date, LyondellBasell has licensed more than 15,000 KTA of its highly successful Lupotech process technology - in over 80 lines globally.

PetroChina HDPE plants have recently commenced operations using Hostalen ACP process technology. This process produces high performance, multi-modal HDPE resins that offer an industry-leading stiffness/toughness balance, impact resistance, and high stress cracking resistance. Pipe, film, and blow molding applications can benefit from the various advantages that this process entails. The Avant Z 501 and Avant Z509-1 catalysts will be used to create a full range of multi-modal HDPE products.

LyondellBasell is committed to helping its new licensees take advantage of the company's in-house expertise. From continuous production improvement to product development according to the latest environmental regulations, these licensees can benefit from LyondellBasell's know-how and high-pressure design. To make sure they are getting the best experience possible, LyondellBasell offers a Technical Service program for optional use.

LyondellBasell's Polyolefin process and catalyst licensing portfolio is an industry leader, featuring the Hostalen ACP, Lupotech T and Lupotech A process technologies, as well as the innovative Spherizone multi-zone circulating reactor. This breakthrough technology provides a platform to manufacture Polypropylene products with novel architecture and enhanced properties. The patented Spheripol PP process is the leading Polypropylene technology with more than 33 million tons of licensed capacity. It offers globally recognized quality grades with excellent monomer yields and competitive investment costs. Additionally, LyondellBasell offers advanced Ziegler-Natta catalysts using non-phthalate, chromium or metallocene materials for creating a full range of Polyolefin products.