Aromatic Company ATC Reformer and Aromatics Complex, Thailand

During the second half of 2004 the board of Aromatic Thailand Company announced that it had given the go ahead had on plans to build a reformer and aromatics complex. The production facilities would be located in Mab Ta Phut, Thailand.

The complex will produce 616,000tpa of paraxylene (PX), and 363,000tpa of benzene and 60,000tpa of toluene. The facilities will require an investment in the region of $650 million, and are due to become operational in the second half of 2008. This complex will expand the existing Aromatics Complex I production capacity ATC has at Mab Ta Phut.

CONFIGURATION OF THE COMPLEX

The complex will consist of five key production sections; condensate splitter, unicracker, hydrotreater, reformer section and aromatic section.

DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY PROVISION FOR THE PARAXYLENE UNIT

During February 2005, UOP was awarded a contract to provide the design and technology for the paraxylene plant.

CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT

During October 2005, ATC signed a contract with a consortium comprising two Korean companies, SK Engineering & Construction (SKEC) and GS Engineering and Construction (GS E&C), to build its aromatics complex. The value of the contract was not disclosed.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT SERVICES

UK-based Foster Wheeler was awarded a contract to work as the project management contractor on ATC’s aromatics complex. The terms of the contract were not disclosed. Foster Wheeler will be responsible for the co-ordination of engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning phases of the project. The contract was awarded in October 2005.

BACKGROUND

Completion of Aromatics Complex II will take ATC's benzene and paraxylene output up to 830,00tpa and 1.1mtpa respectively. ATC claims that this is make it the largest aromatics producer in Asia. Benzene will be used by ATC for cyclohexane production, while demand for paraxylene is expected to grow strongly in Asia.