Equate lifts force majeure, restarts Kuwait SM unit

Kuwait-based Equate Petrochemical, which operates Kuwaiti styrene producer TKSC, has restarted its 450,000 t/yr styrene monomer (SM) unit a week earlier than expected.

TKSC was shut unexpectedly after a tower leak at its ethylbenzene unit on 5 July. The company then issued a force majeure on 8 July. The shutdown was expected to last for about two weeks and affect at least 20,000t of SM supplies to China.

But repairs were completed earlier than expected. The producer achieved on-specification production over the past weekend and is currently operating at 100pc.

The force majeure was lifted on 17 July and only about 10,000t of SM supplies to China will be affected.