By Liz White, UT staffHouston, Texas-All of Lyondell Chemical Co.'s Gulf Coast ethylene, propylene oxide (PO) and refining facilities, and the majority of its derivative facilities, have safely resumed operations after having been shut down as a result of Hurricane Rita, the firm announced 4 Oct. All of the company's propylene oxide (PO) facilities are now operating, Lyondell said, with the exception of one unit at Bayport, Texas, This has remained down for scheduled maintenance turnaround activity, the firm said, Excluding the Bayport unit, operating rates across Lyondell's US PO system are at about 85 percent and are expected to increase. Lyondell added that its North American PO production capacity represents 55 percent of its worldwide capacity."
