Several plants at the Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex (BIPC) have gone for a routine overhaul. The plants include olefin, low density Polyethylene (ldPE), polypropylene (PP), chlor alkali, ethylene dichloride (EDC), vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR).
The overhaul started on October 7th and is expected to be completed in 35 days. During the operation, which seeks smooth operation and production continuity, the plants will be examined thoroughly. Necessary changes, maintenance, repair and modifications will be made during the overhaul. NGL, poly vinyl chloride (PVC), high-density polyethylene (hdPE) and aromatics plants will remain onstream during the overhaul. Later on, all the plants will have a total-shutdown for a period of five days for the inspection and possible repair of the underground and seawater pipe lines and making necessary process connection between the complex and the Petrochemical Special Economic Zone in which several NPC projects are under construction.
BIPC was last overhauled three years ago.




Following the overhaul of the methanol plant of the Shiraz Petrochemical Complex (SPC), the plant's production has increased to 300-t/d showing a 115% increase over its nominal capacity. The overhaul was planned to be completed in 20days while it took only 12 days to complete. SPC's methanol is Iran's first methanol plant that came on track in 1990. The plant's designed capacity is 255-t/d. Its product is both exported and supplied locally. The plant was last overhauled in 1998.
NPC has another running methanol plant in Kharg Island which has an annual production capacity of 660,000-t/y. It is also constructing two methanol facilities in Bandar Imam Petrochemical Special Economic Zone with a capacity of 1,000,000-t/y and in Assaluyeh with a capacity of 1,650,000-t/y.