Egypt’s Sidpec advances expansion of Alexandria petrochemicals complex
Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Co. (ECHEM) subsidiary Sidi Kerir Petrochemicals Co. (Sidpec) has implemented process automation improvements from Honeywell International Co.’s Honeywell Process Solutions (HPS) to upgrade production capabilities as part of the previously announced expansion of Sidpec’s petrochemical complex in the El-Amerya—El-Nahda Territory of Alexandria (OGJ Online, Dec. 12, 2019).
As part of the 10-day automation upgrade, HPS migrated Sidpec’s existing Honeywell TotalPlant Solution (TPS) production system with the latest version of the service provider’s Experion Process Knowledge system, HPS said on Feb. 9.
The automation improvements are specifically intended to support collective production at the site following startup of Sidpec’s proposed expansion, which will add 450,000 tonnes/year of polypropylene production from propane feedstock (OGJ Online, Sept. 25, 2018).
Based on the latest information available from ECHEM and Sidpec, the new polypropylene plant is scheduled for commissioning in first-quarter 2022.
Sidpec’s Alexandria complex currently produces 300,000 tpy of ethylene, 225,000 tpy of polyethylene, 50,000 tpy of LPG, and 10,000 tpy of butene-1. Sidpec also plans to expand ethylene and polyethylene production capacities at the site to 470,000 tpy and 350,000 tpy, respectively, according to ECHEM’s website.
Robert Brelsford | Downstream Editor
Robert Brelsford joined Oil & Gas Journal in October 2013 as downstream technology editor after 8 years as a crude oil price and news reporter on spot crude transactions at the US Gulf Coast, West Coast, Canadian, and Latin American markets. He holds a BA (2000) in English from Rice University and an MS (2003) in education and social policy from Northwestern University.
