Communicator

INEOS' Project One site in Antwerp has already received its first major ‘landmark’: the ethane tank | INEOS, 5 June 2024

Antwerp, Belgium – June 10, 2025

INEOS has officially announced that its landmark €4 billion Project ONE ethane cracker in the Port of Antwerp has reached 70% completion, marking a major milestone for what is described as Europe’s largest chemical investment in a generation.

The announcement was made during a site visit by Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, hosted by INEOS Chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The event highlighted the scale and significance of the
project, which now employs over 2,500 workers on site as construction activity peaks.

"The visit marks a significant milestone for the project, which has now reached 70% completion and employs over 2,500 people on site. Construction is progressing at full pace, with major equipment, including giant furnaces and modular plant components, already installed. Civil works are nearing completion, and utility integration is well underway,” the official INEOS statement reads.

Commissioning and Outlook

Commissioning of Project ONE is scheduled to begin in autumn 2025, with mechanical completion anticipated by the end of 2026. Start-up of the facility is targeted for early 2027. The project is expected to create 450 high-quality permanent jobs and thousands more during the construction phase.

Sustainability and Innovation

Project ONE is designed to set new standards for sustainability in the European chemical sector. The ethane cracker will have a carbon footprint less than half that of the best-performing steam crackers in Europe, thanks to advanced technologies such as ultra-low NOx burners and the capacity to operate on low-carbon hydrogen from day one. The facility will be able to meet 60% of its heat demand with low-carbon hydrogen, with the potential to switch to 100% hydrogen as supply becomes available.

Strategic Importance

Sir Jim Ratcliffe emphasized the project’s strategic importance for Europe’s industrial future, noting that Project ONE is the first new cracker in Europe in a generation. Prime Minister Bart De
Wever praised the project’s progress and its role in reducing CO₂ emissions while supporting the region’s prosperity.

Conclusion

With 70% of construction completed and commissioning on the horizon, Project ONE is on track to transform the industrial landscape of Antwerp and set a benchmark for sustainable chemical production in Europe. The project continues to attract attention as a model for innovation, sustainability, and economic growth in the region.

#cracker #steamcracker #gascracker #projectone #ineos #belgium #antwerp #technip

SP Chemicals Gas Cracker. Credit: SP Chemicals.

Taixing, Jiangsu Province, China – May 2025

SP Chemicals, a leading Chinese petrochemical producer, has announced plans to significantly increase its use of ethane as feedstock at its flagship complex in eastern China, reflecting a broader industry move to cut costs and enhance competitiveness amid global oversupply and squeezed margins.

Ethane Utilization Set to Rise

Currently, SP Chemicals’ cracker in Taixing operates with ethane as about 75% of its feedstock. The company is now studying an increase to as much as 90% ethane utilization, according to CEO Chan Hian Siang. This shift is being evaluated in partnership with Technip, a global engineering firm, and would make SP Chemicals one of the most ethane-intensive operators in Asia.

Ethane, a derivative of U.S. shale gas, is typically cheaper than the more commonly used naphtha. With U.S. ethane exports projected to grow by 7% in 2025 and China recently waiving its 125% tariff on U.S. ethane imports, the economics for ethane cracking have become even more favorable. SP Chemicals sources its ethane primarily from Enterprise Products Partners, a major U.S. supplier.

Infrastructure Expansion

To support the increased ethane use, SP Chemicals will invest between 400 and 500 million yuan (approximately $56–69 million) to construct a new 200,000-cubic-meter ethane storage facility at the Taixing site, nearly doubling current storage capacity. The company also plans to build three new Very Large Ethane Carriers (VLECs) by 2028 to secure long-term supply logistics.

Industry Context

The move comes as Asian petrochemical producers face thin profit margins and global oversupply. Flexible crackers—those able to process both naphtha and ethane—are seen as best positioned to weather market volatility. Other regional players, such as South Korea’s YNCC and Thailand’s PTT Global Chemical, are also ramping up ethane use to maintain cost competitiveness.

SP Chemicals was the first in China to operate a fully gas-based ethylene cracker, starting up its 650,000 tpa (now 780,000 tpa) facility in 2019. The cracker supplies ethylene to the company’s vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and styrene units, as well as the merchant market.

Strategic Impact

By increasing ethane utilization, SP Chemicals aims to:

• Lower feedstock costs and improve margins in a challenging market.
• Enhance operational flexibility and resilience.
• Secure long-term supply through expanded storage and shipping.

CEO Chan Hian Siang noted that “ethane remains cheaper than alternative feedstocks,” underscoring the company’s commitment to cost leadership and innovation.

Outlook

SP Chemicals’ investment in ethane infrastructure and feedstock flexibility positions it at the forefront of China’s petrochemical sector transformation. As U.S. ethane exports rise and China’s demand for cost-competitive chemicals grows, the company’s strategy is likely to set a benchmark for the region’s evolving industry landscape.

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Shell Polymer Monace site has been modelled with its complete mass balance and identification of technologies employed with their production capacities.


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#co2emissions #emissions #carbonfootprint #sustainability #ethane #gascracker #technip #ineos #antwerp #belgium #pipeline

ExxonMobil's ethylene plant n°3 in Baytown, Texas (Credit: ExxonMobil)

February 7, 2025 | Point Comfort, Texas, USA (ExxonMobil Corp.)

ExxonMobil is evaluating the construction of an $8.6 billion polyethylene plant in Point Comfort, Texas, as part of its global growth strategy. The proposed facility, which would include a large-scale ethane cracker, aims to produce ethylene and polyethylene—key components in plastic manufacturing.

The project is under review following Exxon's application for tax abatements under Texas' Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act (JETI). If approved, construction could begin as early as 2026, with operations expected to start in 2031.

The plant would generate approximately 600 permanent and contract jobs and employ over 3,000 workers during peak construction. Exxon projects the facility will contribute $3.6 billion annually to the state's economy once fully operational.

Exxon is also considering alternative locations for the project in the Middle East, Asia, and other parts of North America. The final decision will depend on market conditions and governmental support in competing regions.

#exxonmobil #polyethylene #ethylene #steamcracker #texas #usgc #gulfcoast #ethanecracker #gascracker

SP Chemical completed the first gas-based cracker in Taixing, China, in 2019, producing 780,000 tpa ethylene and 150,000 tpa propylene.

February 7, 2025 | SINGAPORE (Reuters)

Despite growing trade tensions between Washington and Beijing, China's ethane imports from the United States are expected to rise significantly in 2025 as petrochemical producers seek cheaper feedstock alternatives. Major Chinese companies are investing over $16 billion in infrastructure improvements to accommodate this growth.

Industry analysts forecast China's ethane imports to reach between 6.3 million and 8.2 million metric tons in 2025, representing an increase of 9% to 34%. The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects its net ethane exports to rise 6% to 520,000 barrels per day, with China expected to absorb most of this increase.

However, two main factors currently constrain this trade growth: limited U.S. export capacity and a shortage of specialized tankers. To address these limitations, U.S. pipeline operators Energy Transfer and Enterprise Products Partners are expanding their terminal capacities.

China has also demonstrated its commitment to increasing ethane imports by reducing its import tariff to 1% in 2025, down from 2% in 2024. Enterprise CEO Jim Teague remains optimistic about the trade relationship, noting that Chinese dependence on imported propane and ethane should protect this segment from broader trade tensions.

#ethane #china #imports #usa #feedstock #refining #refinery #steamcracking #gascracker #propane #ethyleneplant

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