PETRONAS Chemicals to build US$442m INA plant

PETRONAS CHEMICALS GROUP (PCG) is investing US$442m in building a new isononanol (INA) plant at the Pengerang Integrated Complex in Johor, Malaysia.

In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, PCG said that the board has taken the final investment decision to proceed with the plant. The plant will have a production capacity of 250,000 t/y of INA, and is expected to come onstream in the second half of 2019. The main raffinate-2 feedstock will be supplied by PETRONAS Refinery and Petrochemical Corporation’s cracker complex.

INA is mainly used to produce the plasticiser diisononyl phthalate (DINP), used in polymers for automotive applications, wires and cables, floorings and construction.

“The investment will mark PCG’s entry into a niche business with high entry barrier which is predominantly controlled and commercialised by technology owners for its own captive use,” the company said in the filing.