BELGIUM: Nippon Shokubai begins construction on its SAP and AA project

Nippon Shokubai has broken ground for its superabsorbent polymer (SAP) plant expansion and new acrylic acid (AA) unit in Antwerp, Belgium.

The project, costing about EUR350-million, involves increasing SAP production capacity to 160,000 t/y from 60,000 t/y currently and construction of a new 100,000 t/y AA facility. Mechanical completion is expected in October 2017 with commercial operations planned for May 2018.

Once complete, Nippon Shokubai group's global SAP capacity will be increased to 710,000 t/y and global AA capacity will be raised to 880,000 t/y.

Last month, Jacobs Engineering was awarded the engineering, procurement and construction management contract for the project.

Source: Weekly “PetroChemical News”, Durham, NC, USA; 16 Nov 2015
(Syed Rashid Ali, Karachi, Pakistan)