By Liz White, UT staffDaya Bay, China-CNOOC and Shell Petrochemicals Co. Ltd (CPSC) announced 2 Jan 2006 that construction of a world-scale petrochemicals complex by CPSC at Daya Bay in Huizhou, China, is complete and said "final preparations are being made for start-up." The complex, which includes a 135-kilotonnes-per-annum polyols facility, has been completed within the schedule and budget, said a statement from the partners. No further details concerning when specific products will be available were released. At the centre of the project is an 800 ktpa plant for lower olefins. This petrochemicals complex forms the largest joint venture project so far in China, said a 30 Dec statement from the CPSC JV. Total investment will be $4300 million, and the complex will make 2.3 million tonnes of petrochemical products, the statement added. Products from Daya Bay will primarily be sold to Guangdong and the high consumption areas of China's coastal economic zones where their availability "is expected to strengthen industrial development in these areas," said Shell. Shell has a 50-percent stake in the joint venture company-the CNOOC and Shell Petrochemicals Co.-with CNOOC Petrochemicals Investment Ltd (CPIL) holding the other half.According to Shell, the project "will be an integrated chemicals complex, with steam and electricity generation, storage, handling and shipping facilities and effluent treatment and environmental protection. This world-class petrochemicals complex encountered great challenges and overcame various obstacles during the course of construction," said Luo Han, chairman of CSPC, in the group's announcement, expressing his pleasure that building was completed within the schedule and budget. Shell commented that the project is "fundamental to the Shell strategic objective to grow a significant presence in China, where demand for plastics and packaging is expected to make up 30 percent of world consumption by 2010." The investment is consistent with the Shell strategy of "more upstream, profitable downstream," Shell's statement added. "
