Shintech looks to build Louisiana ethylene cracker to feed PVC production

Shin-Etsu Chemical's US subsidiary Shintech has applied to Louisiana's Department of Environment Quality for a permit to build a new plant that will produce ethylene, which is one of the main raw materials for polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

The permit application states that the ethylene production capacity of this new plant will be 500,000 tpy. With regard to the location of the plant, land for industrial use that Shintech already owns in Plaquemine, Louisiana, will be a leading candidate for the site.

Concurrently with carrying out the required processes to secure a building permit, Shintech says it will continue its feasibility study on the project. After all of these matters are fully considered, a final decision will be made.

This plant construction permit application is one step in the implementation of Shintech’s strategy to assure stable supply of ethylene for the manufacture of PVC.

Shintech says it has been implementing its strategy of setting up an integrated PVC production system starting from its raw materials.

Following its implementation of an in-house production system for chlorine, Shintech has been giving serious consideration to in-house production of ethylene to further strengthen its integrated PVC production system.