Venezuelan methanol plant starts maintenance

Mitsubishi-operated Metanol de Oriente (Metor) in eastern Venezuela started two months of maintenance at one of its two plants, local industry participants tell Argus.

The 750,000 t/yr Metor 1 plant started the major turnaround on 18 January. The 850,000 t/yr Metor 2 plant is operating normally following a shutdown in early December because of high inventories.

Metor, which relies on natural gas feedstock from Venezuelan state-owned PdV Gas, is one of the few industrial plants in Venezuela that has sustained operations. Most other industries, including PdV's upstream and downstream oil operations, are operating at low capacity if at all.

Metor exports methanol to clients in Asia, Europe and the US.

The main shareholders in Metor are Mitsubishi and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical with 23.75pc apiece. Venezuelan state-owned Pequiven holds 37.5pc.

Metor is located in the Jose industrial complex, where another methanol plant, 800,000 t/yr Supermetanol, is operating normally, the sources said. Supermetanol is owned by Italy's Eni and Pequiven.

By Patricia Garip