Oxea has started basic engineering for a 2-Ethylhexanol (2-EH) and a Propanol unit at its world-scale production plant at Bay City, Texas. Both units are scheduled to come on stream in late 2016. Key elements of the basic engineering work will also be utilized for the construction of Oxea's future Asian Oxo chemicals platform in Duqm, Oman.
2-EH is used in the production of acrylates, nitrates, acids and plasticizers, and serves, among others, as a solvent in the paint and coatings industries. Propanol is used to manufacture products such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, printing inks, coatings and adhesives.
The new units will further add to Oxea's most recent capacity expansion of the Bay City plant, which will increase current output of Butanol and Propanol by 25 percent. This additional volume is planned to come on line in the second half of 2014.