CI Group has signed two license agreements for Process Technology and Engineering Design with a confidential client in China. The two lines will be capable of producing 50,000 tons per year of Ethylene Butyl Acrylate (EBA) and 100,000 tons per year of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) respectively, with the ability to produce other associated high-pressure copolymers in the future. 

The plants will be part of the client’s refining and petrochemical integrated project, a mega complex to be located in the Province of Jiangsu. ECI Group will provide the technology, design, and training for the two lines, as well as support through commissioning, start-up, and production.

Repsol, the multi-energy company, is the technology partner of ECI Group and will provide its extensive technical expertise on these kinds of plants and products. Repsol has several LDPE, EVA, and EBA plants in its industrial complexes in Spain and Portugal and has over 40 years of experience producing polymers in high-pressure facilities.

The plants will use high-pressure autoclave technology that has its roots in the heritage ICI process to manufacture of Polyethylene. ICI first created LDPE in the 1930s, and ICI partnered with ECI Group’s subsidiary company Simon Carves over five decades to deliver over 67 operating reactor lines around the world. The ECI Group design offers significant improvements in the product range, reliability, and expandability to the original ICI technology, and is optimized to make use of modern materials, design techniques, standards, and industry best practices for construction, operation, and maintenance.

While the client declined to provide a comment citing project confidentiality, they noted that they had reviewed a number of technology options and made the decision to select ECI Group’s autoclave technology for a number of important reasons including the unmatched product range, lower operating costs and the design built for future expansion of capacity and product development capabilities. They also recognized Repsol’s reputation as a long-standing producer of high-quality products, and expressed their desire to work with both partners for a fruitful long-term cooperation.

“These agreements include the first EBA license and ECI’s fourth high-pressure copolymer license in 12 months,” said Joaquin Flores, President and CEO of ECI Group. “These achievements serve to establish ECI’s position as the technology of choice for producers of high-pressure polyethylene. ECI Group is already recognized globally as the world’s leading provider of engineering and technical services for high-pressure polyethylene facilities, having worked with every major current producer and licensor. Once again, we have been able to demonstrate the benefits Repsol’s in-depth product knowledge and market reputation to further enhance ECI Group’s established expertise. We look forward to a long and successful partnership with this well-established client who have made a great impression on us during our discussions with their level of integrity, vision and professionalism.”