World's Largest PO/TBA Unit Commissioned by LyondellBasell

Texas [US]: LyondellBasell, one of the world's leading producers of chemical products, announced today that its new Propylene Oxide (PO) and Tertiary Butyl Alcohol (TBA) unit in Texas is ready for operation. The facility has an annual capacity of 470 thousand metric tons of PO and one million metric tons of TBA and its derivatives. This significant expansion to the company's U.S. Gulf Coast operations will help solidify its position as a leader in the chemicals industry.

"The world-leading capacity of the new plant positions us to meet the growing demand for products essential for modern life," stated Chris Cain, LyondellBasell senior vice president for Global Manufacturing. "Our company strives to be trailblazers in our industry and make positive contributions through our environmental and sustainability initiatives. This project advances our company's goals and creates value while meeting customer and society's needs, and it involved a collaborative effort between multiple project teams at Bayport, Channelview and around the world to deliver a project of this magnitude."

Construction is underway for the PO/TBA project at LyondellBasell's Channelview and Bayport complexes in Texas. The 140-acre PO/TBA plant is located at the Channelview Complex, while a 34-acre ethers unit which will convert TBA to oxyfuels, will be situated at the Bayport Complex. This split facility design has been created to maximize production efficiency and capitalize on shared synergies between both locations.

LyondellBasell, one of the world's largest chemical producers, has announced a multi-billion-dollar investment project in Houston's Gulf Coast region.

LyondellBasell began their (PO/TBA) production operations at the Bayport Complex half a century ago, and since then they have been focused on maximising efficiency in their PO/TBA operations. After five decades of accumulated global experience and research into improving yields and fuel recovery, their Channelview Complex plant is now officially the most energy efficient PO/TBA plant in company history.

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TBA has successfully converted their production process to manufacture two ether-based oxyfuels: Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) and Ethyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (ETBE). Both additives are high octane fuels that reduce emissions when added to gasoline. Their use ensures a more efficient burn in automobiles, making them an effective choice for improving air quality.