BP’s latest PTA technology will be used for the first time in the Middle East

BP’s latest-generation purified terephthalic acid (PTA) technology will be used in a plant that Oman International Petrochemical Industries Company (Ompet) is setting up in Sohar, Northern Oman.

This follows the signing of a licensing agreement between BP and Ompet recently.  

Ompet, a joint venture between Oman Oil Company, LG International Corp and Takamul Investment Company, plans to build a 1.1 million tonnes per year unit at Sohar to produce PTA, the primary feedstock for polyesters used in the textile and packaging industry.

“This is the first licence for BP’s PTA technology in the Middle East which is an important and strategic region for BP, and is a testimony to the advantages of the company’s technology and to its extensive experience as a PTA producer,” Rita Griffin, chief operating officer, BP Petrochemicals, was quoted as saying in a local media report.

SERVICES

Daniel Leonardi, vice president, technology and licensing, BP Petrochemicals, said BP will provide a wide range of technical and knowledge transfer services for the Ompet joint venture.

He added that the front-end engineering design (Feed) package for the licence has been completed and delivered to Ompet on schedule.

BP says its PTA technology has significantly lower capital and operating costs when compared with conventional PTA plants and the technology is more energy efficient, uses less water and produces less solid waste.

“Innovations in the technology will continue to be developed and implemented and these will be available to our licensees, including Ompet, Leonardi said.