Foster Wheeler Ltd has announced that its UK subsidiary has won the contract for the front-end loading and engineering package (FEEP) development for a world-scale integrated isocyanates complex in China. It was awarded by BASF Aktiengesellschaft and Huntsman International LLC. The contract will be completed in June 2003. In total, it is valued at approximately USD 15.5 million to Foster Wheeler. The complex, with a total investment value in the region of USD 1 billion, will be built on the Shanghai Chemical Industries Park (SCIP), Caojing, Shanghai. The plant is scheduled for commercial operation in 2006. BASF, Huntsman and four Chinese investors – Shanghai Chlor-Alkali Chemical Co. Ltd, Shanghai Hua Yi (Group) Company, China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation and SINOPEC Shanghai Gao Qiao Petrochemical Corporation – are combining in three project joint ventures to build the complex, which has three main elements: an integrated nitrobenzene, aniline and crude diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) plant (Shanghai Lianheng Isocyanate Company Ltd), an MDI purification and pre-polymers plant (Huntsman Polyurethanes Shanghai Ltd) and an MDI purification and pre-polymers plant and a toluene diisocyanate (TDI) plant with precursors (nitric acid and dinitrotoluene) (Shanghai BASF Polyurethane Company Ltd).
Diphenylmethane diisocyanate and toluene diisocyanate are used principally in the production of polyurethane foams and elastomers for use in furniture, upholstery, building and appliance insulation, automotive parts and footwear.
