KazMunayGas, Sinopec complete pre-feasibility study for TPA/PETP project in Atyrau

ASTANA. Aug 22 (Interfax-) - Kazakhstan's KazMunayGas (KMG) and China's Sinopec have completed a preliminary feasibility study for a terephthalic acid and polyethylene terephthalate project (TPA/PETP) that will be carried out in Atyrau, west Kazakhstan, KMG said in a press release.

The project was discussed at a meeting between chairman of KMG's management board, Askhat Khasenov, and chairman of Sinopec's board of directors, Ma Yongsheng.

Investment in the TPA/PETP project totals over $8 billion, KMG said.

Now that the pre-feasibility study is over, KMG and Sinopec will embark on a front-end engineering and design project , according to the press release.

In 2023, Sinopec announced plans to build a terephthalic acid and polyethylene terephthalate plant in Atyrau. The plant is expected to be put into operation in 2029. According to KMG, the design capacity of the plant will be up to 735,000 tonnes of polyethylene terephthalate a year.

Paraxylene which is produced by the Atyrau refinery will be main feedstock for the TPA/PETP project.

The Kazakh Energy Ministry said earlier that modernization of the Atyrau refinery will have been completed by 2027, after which the refinery will start producing benzene and paraxylene for the TPA/PETP plant without reducing the production of gasoline and diesel fuel.