Construction begins on LyondellBasell’s $2.4bn PO/TBA Plant in Houston

Dutch chemical company LyondellBasell has started construction of its $2.4 billion propylene oxide (PO) and tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA) plant in Houston, Texas, which is expected to be the largest PO/TBA Plant in the world.

The LyondellBasell PO/TBA Plant in Houston, which is slated to be commissioned in 2021, will have an annual production capacity of 1 billion pounds of propylene oxide and 2.2 billion pounds of tertiary butyl alcohol.

Bob Patel – CEO of LyondellBasell, commenting on the ground breaking event of the LyondellBasell PO/TBA Plant, said: “This plant will be the largest of its kind, built to meet the rising global demand for urethanes used by billions of consumers each day and clean-burning oxyfuels that will help improve air quality around the world.

“The construction of this project will provide jobs for our neighbors, support local businesses and strengthen our communities with increased tax revenues across the greater Houston region. As one of the cornerstones of our global growth strategy, the new plant will strengthen our ties in Houston and generate long-term value for our shareholders.”

LyondellBasell breaks ground on $2.4bn PO/TBA Plant in Houston. Photo courtesy of PRNewsfoto/LyondellBasell.

LyondellBasell said that to streamline product balances and achieve synergies between the company’s sites, a couple of facilities will be built on existing manufacturing plants. The new PO/TBA plant will be built on a land of 140 acres within the LyondellBasell Channelview Complex in Channelview, Texas.

On the other hand, an associated ethers plant for the conversion of TBA to oxyfuels will be constructed at the company’s Bayport Complex located in Pasadena, Texas.

The PO/TBA project in Houston is likely to create over 2,200 construction jobs during the peak construction stage followed by creation of 160 permanent roles after it is put into service.

Commenting on the ground breaking event of the LyondellBasell PO/TBA Plant, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said: “The groundbreaking on this new project not only brings more job opportunities for Texans, it also adds to the growing diversity of our booming economy.

“It is because of investments from companies like LyondellBasell that the Texas economy continues to be the envy of the nation. I thank LyondellBasell for their investment and wish them continued success.”

Propylene oxide is used for making bedding, furniture, coatings, carpeting, building materials and adhesives. Tertiary butyl alcohol, on the other hand, will be converted to two ether-based oxyfuels – methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE). The two oxyfuels are high-octane gasoline components that help gasoline burn cleaner and decrease emissions from automobiles.

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