INEOS to deliver first ever US ethane from shale gas to China in 2019 using world’s largest ethane carrier
INEOS has announced a long-term supply agreement with SP Chemicals to deliver ethane from US shale gas to China. The agreement, which will see US shale gas shipped to China for the first time, will supply SP Chemicals with a long-term competitive supply of ethane for its industrial production, Evergas said in its press release.
The deal will involve the construction of a 95,000cbm capacity ship which is expected to be delivered in 2019. The ship, known in the US as a ‘Very Large Ethane Carrier’ or VLEC will be the largest ethane carrier in the world, and will ship US shale gas to SP Chemicals new gas cracker facility, currently under construction in Taixing China. As with the INEOS Dragon ships, this vessel will be operated by EVERGAS. It will be the first VLEC in their fleet of 23 gas ships. The ship will be built in China under the management of the JACCAR Group.
About INEOS
INEOS is a global manufacturer of petrochemicals, speciality chemicals and oil products. It comprises 25 businesses each with a major chemical company heritage. Its production network spans 105 manufacturing facilities in 22 countries throughout the world, employing 18500 people. INEOS products make a significant contribution to saving life, improving health and enhancing standards of living for people around the world. Its businesses produce the raw materials that are essential in the manufacture of a wide variety of goods: from paints to plastics, textiles to technology, medicines to mobile phones – chemicals manufactured by INEOS enhance almost every aspect of modern life.
About SP Chemicals
SP Chemicals is the largest ion-membrane chlor-alkali manufacturer in Jiangsu Province, and the fourth largest in the PRC, with annual revenues of more than RMB6 billion. SP Chemicals currently employs more than 1,200 employees. SP Chemicals manufactures chlor-alkali products and related downstream products, with annual production capacities of 750,000 tons per annum (“tpa”) for caustic soda, 660,000 tpa for chlorine, 135,000 tpa for aniline, 500,000 tpa for VCM, and 320,000 tpa for styrene monomer. SP Chemicals sells mostly to customers who are based in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shandong provinces, as well as Shanghai. SP Chemicals also exports its products to the USA, Australia, Japan, and Korea. SP Chemicals’ customers include multinational corporations, such as BASF and Akzo Nobel, and PRC state-owned and private enterprises, in a diverse range of industries – such as petrochemicals, textiles, paper, consumer goods, plastic polymers, rubber, dye, and pharmaceuticals.
About JACCAR Group
JACCAR is a maritime conglomerate operating more than 500 vessels and led by Jacques de Chateauvieux. The group controls Bourbon, a world leader in the offshore service sector. The group has invested heavily in vessel construction in China and have taken delivery of over 250 vessels from own yard. Primary focus of the group is within the oil & gas industry.
About EVERGAS
Evergas is a leading first class operator within the transportation of liquefied gas, ensuring safe and flexible operations for its range of customers. Its modern and effective fleet is represented within the carriage of LNG, ethane, LPG and petrochemical gases such as ethylene, propylene, butadiene and VCM. Evergas currently transports ethane for INEOS from US to Europe on 8 advanced multi-gas carriers.