Sasol’s ethane cracker in Lake Charles is undergoing planned maintenance work and is scheduled to restart in late December, a spokeswoman for the company told S&P Global Platts.
The LCCP ethane cracker was shut down Nov. 30 to begin replacing acetylene reactor catalysts—a move that was announced in October.
Sasol’s Lake Charles Ethane Cracker, is one of the largest in the world with a nameplate capacity of 1.54 million tons per year. Approximately 90% of the cracker’s ethylene output will be used in six downstream plants on site to produce a range of high-value derivatives including ethylene oxide, mono-ethylene glycol, ethoxylates, low density and linear low density polyethylene, and Ziegler and Guerbet alcohols.
The utilities and infrastructure systems that enable the entire project are fully operational. The Linear Low Density Polyethylene and Ethylene Oxide/Ethylene Glycol units achieved beneficial operation earlier this year. The Ziegler Alcohol, Ethoxylates and Guerbet alcohol units are on track to achieve beneficial operation in early 2020.
