A propane and propylene separation tower, core equipment for the propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant for the comprehensive utilization of alkane resources in Oriental Energy (Maoming) was shipped from Zhangjiagang Port, and will arrive at the Jeddah Port of Maoming Binhai New Area at the end of December.

Oriental Energy signed an investment agreement for an alkane resource comprehensive utilization project with the Maoming government on Sept 16, 2019 to build a world-class green petrochemical industry and a hydrogen energy industrial park in Maoming.

Construction on the project was divided into three phases, with first-phase construction starting on March 2020 in Maoming's Binhai New Area.

The first phase of the project includes the building of two sets of propane dehydrogenation equipment with a yearly production capacity of 1 million metric tons; four polypropylene processing units with a yearly production capacity of 500,000 tons; two wharves; and reservoir areas. It received a total of 40 billion yuan ($6.28 billion) in investment and is expected to begin operating in 2022.

The project is expected to build Maoming into the world's largest polypropylene production base, forge a port-centered industrial cluster valued at 100 billion yuan, and promote the industrial upgrading of Maoming.

The propane and propylene separation tower is the core equipment of the propane dehydrogenation project and has a diameter of 9.6 meters, height of 101 m, and weight of 1,100 tons. The smooth delivery of the tower indicates that the project is proceeding on schedule and will soon enter the full installation stage.

The propane and propylene separation tower will be transported to Maoming. [Photo/WeChat account: maofabu]