India’s HMEL produces off-specification LLDPE

Market: Petrochemicals
07/06/23

Indian petrochemical producer Hindustan Petroleum-Mittal Energy (HMEL) began linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) production this week at its new integrated petrochemical complex at the Guru Gobind Singh refinery in northwest India's Punjab state.

It produced off-specification LLDPE this week and will likely produce on-specification grades next week, according to market participants. Its 1.2mn t/yr naphtha-fed cracker also started up. HMEL has yet to comment on the start-ups.

HMEL was scheduled to start up its new PE plant back in 2021. But delays arose because of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, pushing it to this year's first quarter. This was also delayed because of a fire at its cracker.

The new complex houses a 450,000 t/yr high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plant and an 800,000 t/yr LLDPE/HDPE swing plant. Trial runs have been under way since December.

The production of off-specification grades this week signal HMEL is on track to meet its intended start-up this month. Market participants expect the plant to begin commercial operations this month.

By Matthew Rajendra

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India’s HMEL produces off-specification LLDPE

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