19-05-2021

Engro selects Honeywell UOP C3 Oleflex™ technology

Honeywell today announced that Engro Corporation will use Honeywell UOP C3 Oleflex™ technology to produce 750,000 metric tons per year of on-purpose propylene at its new complex in Karachi, Pakistan. Propylene is the primary component in a variety of plastic products that are rapidly growing in demand, and this project will mark the first use of C3 Oleflex in Pakistan.

UOP will provide technology licensing and basic engineering design, in addition to services, equipment, catalysts and adsorbents for the proposed plant.

“Our proposed integrated propane dehydrogenation complex can be a significant milestone for Engro and Pakistan for the domestic growth of polypropylene, and enrichment of the petrochemicals landscape for the country,” said Ghias Khan, president and CEO, Engro Corporation. “With our commitment to further invest in projects that are catalysts for growth in Pakistan and after studying the commercial feasibility of a propane dehydrogenation complex, we have selected Honeywell UOP as a technology partner based on its extensive experience and cutting-edge solutions that have advanced Oleflex projects globally.”

“This facility will allow Engro to expand its portfolio in the region, and optimize the production of polypropylene, a key ingredient in plastics, resins and fibers,” said Laura Leonard, vice president and general manager, Honeywell UOP Process Technologies. “Our Oleflex technology enables the conversion of propane into high-quality propylene, which is rapidly growing in demand in the Middle East and South Asia.”

Since 2011, the majority of new dehydrogenation projects globally have been based on UOP C3 Oleflex technology. Global production capacity of propylene from Oleflex technology currently stands at approximately 10.2 million metric tons per year.

Honeywell UOP’s C3 Oleflex technology converts propane to propylene through catalytic dehydrogenation. The technology is designed to have a lower cash cost of production and higher return on investment when compared to competing dehydrogenation technologies. Its low energy consumption, low emissions and fully recyclable, platinum-alumina-based catalyst system helps minimize its impact on the environment. The independent reactor and regeneration design of the Oleflex technology helps maximize operating flexibility and onstream reliability.

Having a rich history of over 50 years, Engro Corporation is Pakistan’s premier conglomerate with a diverse portfolio of businesses across the four verticals of energy and related infrastructure, agricultural outputs, petrochemicals and telecommunication infrastructure. With decades of experience in petrochemicals and a commitment to further develop its footprint in the petrochemicals vertical, Engro started conducting the commercial feasibility of the Polypropylene facility, based on PDH technology, in April 2019.  Recently, the group had announced to invest over $30 million to conduct engineering, design and technical studies for its proposed Polypropylene complex.