BP Zhuhai Chemical has officially started up its Phase 3 PTA unit at Zhuhai, China.

The new plant built at a cost of more than €600 million by the 85:15 joint venture of oil and petrochemicals giant BP with China’s Zhuhai Port was engineered by French contractor Technip. It increases PTA output at the site to more than 2.7 million t/y and the UK oil and petrochemicals group’s global PTA capability to 8.25 million t/y.

Phase 3 of the three-pronged BP Zhuhai production facility is claimed to be the world’s largest single train unit for production of the polyester feedstock. The Chinese site is additionally the first to use the latest version of the BP process.

Compared with conventional PTA technology, BP said Zhuhai 3 is highly energy efficient, delivering 95% lower solid waste, 65% lower greenhouse gas emissions and 75% lower water discharge. Most of the output is earmarked to supply growing demand from China’s polyester textile industry.