Bandar Imam Petrochemical Co. (BIPC) has planned to expand the capacity of its olefins plant from the existing 311,000-t/y to 411,000-t/y.
The required feed for the plant will be supplied by BIPC's natural gas liquids fractionation plant (NF). By introducing an additional 12% fresh ethane to the plant, its production will increase by 32% after expansion.
Major changes required to realize the expansion project include:

Improvement of the plant heaters run length by upgrading the heater coil materials

Replacement of methane compressor

Replacement of charge gas, propylene and ethylene compressors with footprint concept.

After due process and equipment modifications, energy consumption at the plant will be lowered by 20% in comparison to the original design before the execution of expansion.The project is expected to be completed in 28 ½ months.
The contract for the basic engineering work has been awarded to ABB Lummus Global GmbH which has already started the work. Contracts for detailed engineering and construction work are expected to be awarded in the near future. Construction contractor will be selected during the implementation of detailed engineering work.



Fajr Petrochemical Co. (FPC), an NPC subsidiary, announced that it has completed the 132kv transmission line from the 400kv post of Ahwaz-Mahshahr to Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex (BIPC). It further added that the line was successfully electrified. The line is 30km long and consists of 84 transmission towers.
Besides, FPC said that it executed BIPC's new 132kv post. This post is also electrified. BIPC's new 132kv post consists of two 1132/66kv transformer, auxiliaries and one control room.
Meanwhile, a 132kv post for Razi Petrochemical Complex (RPC) has been completed. RPC's post is expected to be charged in late February 2002.

Fanavaran Petrochemical Co. (FPC), a subsidiary of NPC, has floated tender documents for a vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) plant. The tenders call for provision of technology license, basic and detailed engineering, and equipment.
FPC will pick up a contractor by March 20, the end of the current Iranian year.
The 150,000-t/y VAM project will be built in a 3 hectares area next to Methanol No.3 and acetic acid plants within the Petrochemical Special Economic Zone (PETZONE) on the Iranian coast of the Persian Gulf. It will use acetic acid, ethylene and oxygen as its feed that will be supplied by the neighboring plants.

Petrochemical Development Management Co. (PIDMCO), a subsidiary of the National Petrochemical Company has received revised proposals for the Razi Petrochmical Co.'s (RPC) third ammonia project. PIDMCO is set to kick off negotiations with the companies that have submitted bids for the 676,500-t/y ammonia project.

NPC has completed evaluation of bids for the 80,000-t/y soda ash project, which will be located adjacent to the Shiraz Petrochemical Complex. PIDMCO will soon begin negotiations with bidders.

Bids offered for a 300,000-t/y polyvinyl chloride facility, which will be built at Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex (BIPC) are under evaluation. PIDMCO is drawing up negotiation programs with bidders. Negotiations are expected to begin soon.

NPC will issue tender documents for the Kharg methanol and olefin project on 18 March 2002. NPC plans to build an ethane-based 310,000-t/y cracker downstream of which would be a 310,000-t/y high-density polyethylene (hdPE) plant.
It has also formulated for a 660,000-t/y methanol facility.
NPC already operates a 660,000-t/y methanol plant on Kharg Island. The plant was brought onstream in 1999.