Formosa to use ThyssenKrupp reforming process on new Texas PDH unit

The PDH plant is to be built at Formosa's existing petrochemical complex in Point Comfort. 

The contract awarded to ThyssenKrupp includes licensing, basic engineering, detail engineering for the key equipment, delivery of the catalyst (STAR catalyst) and technical support during the entire project execution. 

“Having already acquired several major fertilizer plant contracts for as a result of the shale gas boom in the US, we are confident we can now profit from forthcoming investments in propane dehydrogenation plants," said Hans-Theo Kühr, CEO of the process technologies business unit at ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions. 

"This contract is an important step," he added. "With our engineering expertise and technological capabilities, we help our customers make their production processes more efficient so as to gain an edge in their markets.” 

Developed by Uhde, the STAR process for dehydrogenation of light hydrocarbons has a broad range of applications. 

"The advantages of the STAR process lie in its high flexibility and robustness in operation and its efficiency in manufacturing the desired products," said Dr. Benno Lüke, head of the chemicals/oil and gas operating unit at ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions.

"This significantly reduces investment, operating and maintenance costs for our customers,” he added.

The PDH plant in Point Comfort will have a capacity of 545,000 tpy of propylene and is part of the Point Comfort petrochemical complex expansion announced by FPC in February 2012.