Celanese wins government approval for industrial ethanol plant in China
US-based technology and specialty materials firm Celanese says it has received key government approvals necessary to proceed with plans to modify and enhance its existing integrated acetyl facility at the Nanjing Chemical Industrial Park to produce ethanol for industrial uses.
The unit, based on Celanese TCX ethanol process technology, is expected to start up in mid-2013.
The new ethanol production is expected to increase the overall profitability of the facility by enhancing the mix of products manufactured, the company said.
Total investment for the project is expected to be a fraction of the required capital for a greenfield facility, according to Celanese officials.
Based upon continued advancements to its TCX ethanol process technology, the company said it now expects to have approximately 30 to 40% additional ethanol production capacity than the originally announced 200,000 tpy, all with no increase in the capital investment for the modification and enhancement.
This additional capacity will enable the company to meet the growing demand for industrial ethanol in China, Celanese said.
“We are excited to begin construction on our first commercial scale ethanol plant utilizing our breakthrough TCX ethanol process technology to capture the growing demand for industrial ethanol in China and provide increased value to our stockholders,” said David Weidman, CEO.
“The company’s continued advancements to the technology allow us to produce 30 to 40% more capacity from this unit than originally announced.
“Additionally, our technology advancement unit in Clear Lake, Texas, which is scheduled to be completed in mid-2012, will provide further enhancements to our TCX ethanol process technology.”
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