LG Chem delays start of new Yosu cracker to 2Q 2021

South Korea's LG Chem has delayed the start of production at its new cracker and downstream polyethylene (PE) units in Yosu to the second quarter of 2021.

The cracker, which will be able to produce 800,000 t/yr of ethylene, had been due to start in the first quarter of next year. But the Covid-19 outbreak and subsequent delays completing the project mean the start-up process has been pushed back.

The complex will include two linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) lines, each with capacity of 300,000 t/yr. A third line will produce 200,000 t/yr of high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

LG Chem is planning to start trial runs at one LLDPE line in the first quarter of next year. The second LLDPE line and the HDPE unit will begin starting up in the second quarter.

LG Chem also operates two crackers, each producing 1.1mn t/yr of ethylene, in Yosu and Daesan.

By Mahua Chakravarty