Asahi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. and
TASCO Chemical Corporation of Taiwan have agreed to
study the feasibility of the establishment of a joint
facility for the production of MMA (methyl methacrylate)
monomer in Taiwan.
1. Background
Asahi Chemical developed a
new direct oxidative esterification (DOE) C4 process for greater efficiency in MMA production, and
began commercial operation of a plant using the new
process in January 1999. Since then, the new process
has been the subject of numerous inquiries from potential
licensees throughout the world.
Asahi Chemical has itself been considering
the possibility of expanding MMA supply capacity for
some time, and the rapid growth in demand for MMA
in Asia during the latter half of 1999 has made the
prospects for capacity expansion in the region particularly
attractive.
The decision to begin a joint feasibility
study regarding the possibility of establishing an
MMA production facility with TASCO was made following
a preliminary evaluation of several prospective partners.
Several factors entered into the judgment of TASCO's
potential as one suitable partner for such a project,
including its earnest desire to enter MMA operations,
a reliable supply of the isobutylene feedstock near
its plant, and the excellent facilities integration
with the Lin-Yuan petrochemical complex which TASCO
enjoys.
2. Overview of proposal for study
| Plant capacity: |
50,000 to 70,000 t/year MMA monomer |
| Process: |
Asahi's New C4 process |
| Location: |
TASCO Lin-Yuan Plant, Kaohsiung,
Taiwan |
| Target Start-up: |
By year-end 2002 |
| Capitalization and shareholding
ratio: |
Undecided |
Profile of TASCO Chemical Corporation
| Establishment: |
April 1982 |
| Main Products: |
MTBE, MEK |
| Head Office: |
25-9A Sec.4, Jen-Ai Rd., Taipei,
Taiwan |
| Production site: |
1 Kung-Yeh 2nd Rd., Lin-Yuan,
Kaohsiung, Taiwan |
|
