This is in line with the company’s strategy to capitalize on new low cost ethane and other light feedstocks being developed in North America.
As part of this program each of the company’s two light feedstock ethylene crackers in Lake Charles will be expanded.
These expansions will begin as planned maintenance turnarounds occur in order to provide ethylene for existing internal derivatives units and the merchant market.
The first cracker expansion will increase capacity by approximately 230-240 million pounds per year, while also increasing feedstock flexibility.
It is expected this project will be completed by late 2012 and a second expansion concluded by the end of 2014.
The company is evaluating conversion from propane to ethane feedstock at Calvert City that is becoming available from increasing North American gas liquids reserves from sources such as shale gas.
The expansion options are also being evaluated for the site and engineering and design studies are underway.
