MHI Secures U.S. Ethylene Turbomachinery Contract for 625,000 Tons/Year, Startup in 2030

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On August 28, MHI Compressor International Corporation was selected to supply critical turbomachinery for Shintech's PEP-2 project in Louisiana. PEP-2 will add a new ethylene plant with an annual capacity of 625,000 tons at Shintech's existing Plaquemine site, with operations scheduled to begin in 2030.

MHI will undertake the equipment supply through teams in both Hiroshima and Houston. The turbomachinery will be used in core process stages of ethylene production, marking the second time MHI has provided such equipment for an ethylene plant built by Shintech in the United States.

PEP-2 is part of Shintech's $3.4 billion total expansion plan. The plan also includes the construction of a fourth chlor-alkali and vinyl chloride monomer production unit. Upon full completion, the Plaquemine site will add annual production capacity of 625,000 tons of ethylene, 500,000 tons of vinyl chloride monomer, and 310,000 tons of caustic soda, with the overall project scheduled for completion by the end of 2030.

All output from the new ethylene plant will be supplied to Shintech's own vinyl chloride monomer production system. The additional vinyl chloride monomer will continue to be used in PVC production, linking ethylene, chlor-alkali, vinyl chloride monomer, and PVC operations within the same production system.

The expansion is expected to create 163 direct jobs while retaining the site's existing 725 positions; local economic development agencies project the project may also generate 655 indirect jobs. The project will be implemented in phases, with the PEP-2 ethylene plant and the associated chlor-alkali and vinyl chloride monomer units constituting the first phase of construction.