Due to the travel restrictions caused by the public health event, the agreement was signed in a virtual online ceremony, attended by dignitaries including Party Secretary of Guangdong Province Li Xi, CNOOC Chairman Wang Dongjin, Shell CEO Ben van Beurden, CNOOC VP for Downstream Chen Bi and Shell Downstream Director Huibert Vigeveno.
The expansion is planned to serve the growing number of intermediate and performance chemicals customers in the key market of China, supplying products including SM/PO, polyols, ethylene glycol, polyethylene and polypropylene. These chemicals are used in a wide range of end products, in healthcare, construction, fabrics, packaging, transport and electronics. For the first time in Asia, Shell would apply its advanced technology for linear alpha olefins. The project is intended to include construction of a new 1.5 million mt/a ethylene cracker, with the mega-site bringing economies of scale and enhanced competitiveness.
Thomas Casparie, Executive Vice Present for Shell’s global chemicals business, said “Our growth strategy is based on long-term chemicals demand. We are very selective in our investments, and this agreement underlines Shell’s confidence in both the chemicals business fundamentals and our strategic partnerships with CNOOC and the Huizhou Government.”
The CSPC site currently converts a variety of liquid feedstock into olefins and derivative products. It has a strong track record of safe, reliable and energy-efficient operations. In January 2020, CNOOC and Shell announced the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding to explore its first commercial-scale polycarbonate production unit at the site.
The two partners signed Memorandum of Understanding on October 16, 2018 to explore expansion of the existing collaboration.
The start-up of the site’s second ethylene cracker was announced on May 2, 2018. The site’s second SM/PO plant, which will be the largest in China, is currently under construction.
