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28-03-2013

Sasol to license ExxonMobil technology for Louisiana polyethylene plant

ExxonMobil Chemical Technology Licensing LLC, an affiliate of ExxonMobil  Chemical Company, has signed an agreement to license its tubular process technology to Sasol North America for a new low density polyethylene (LDPE) plant in Lake Charles, La. The new 420 thousand tonnes per year plant is expected to be completed in late 2016.
 
Sasol Polymers, a division of Sasol Chemical Industries, also licensed  the ExxonMobil Chemical tubular process for its LDPE plant in Sasolburg, South Africa, that opened in 2005. “LDPE producers continue to choose our tubular process technology for its broad grade-slate capabilities, high reactor uptime and lower total cost compared with commercial gas-phase reactors,” said Jennifer Dunphy, vice president, ExxonMobil Chemical Technology Licensing.
 
“The performance of our LDPE plant in Sasolburg and the experience of  working with ExxonMobil Chemical before, during and after that facility  came online helped convince us that the ExxonMobil Chemical tubular process was also the best choice for our Lake Charles plant,” said Mike Biesheuvel, managing director, Sasol Polymers International Investments. “The demonstrated performance of other ExxonMobil Chemical LDPE process  licensees in plants with 400 thousand tonnes per year capacities was  another important factor in our selection.”
 
Used worldwide by ExxonMobil Chemical and its licensees, the company’s  high-pressure tubular process has been in operation since 1968 and has a  long history of improvements and capacity expansion. The company also  licenses autoclave technology for producing LDPE.

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