RELEASED ON 11/02/13 (DD/MM/YY)

PTT, Asahi Kasei Chemicals and Marubeni today jointly opened the world's first acrylonitrile plant in Thailand, to produce raw materials for plastic and acrylic fibre manufacturing. Using propane as feedstock, this plant is expected to reduce Thailand's imports.

"I believe that such collaboration between Thailand and Japan has brought in combining strength in technology, know-how and natural resources especially the natural gas to develop the petrochemical industry to accommodate the current high rising demand in energy. This occasion will mark the beginning of cooperation development to efficiently use the technology and natural resources for highest benefits in the future. The commercial operation will reduce imports of raw materials and increase export of the products to augment the country's overall export income," said Police Major General Lattasanya Piansomparn, advisor to Minister of Energy.

Lattasanya presided over the opening ceremony with Kiminori Iwama, Economic Minister of Embassy of Japan in Thailand.

The project is carried out by PTT Asahi Chemical Co Ltd (PTTAC), a 48.5:48.5:3 joint venture of the three companies. Established in 2006, PTTAC built the plant at Hemaraj Eastern Industrial Estate (Map Ta Phut), Rayong. It will use propane from PTT Gas Separation Plant to produce 200,000 tonnes of Acrylonitrile (AN), a raw material for plastic and acrylic fibre, 70,000 Tons of Methyl Methacrylate (MMA), a raw material for Poly Methyl Methacrylate (PMMA), and 160,000 tonnes per year of Ammonium Sulfate (AMS), a raw material for fertiliser.

PTT will additionally supply acetone feedstock from its newly-completed PTT Phenol plant, and other utilities via its PTT Utility.

SOURCE The Nation