Chevron Chemical Co. LLC to Build Worldscale Normal Alpha Olefin Plant

N/Apany%>has received corporate approval to build a worldscale normal alpha olefin (NAO) plant at the company's Cedar Bayou facility in Baytown, TX. Construction will begin in December, with start-up scheduled for mid-2000.

Using Chevron's proprietary NAO technology, the plant will produce 750 million lb/yr of alpha olefins and is expandable to one billion lb. The plant will double Cedar Bayou's current alpha olefins production capacity. Chevron Chemical produces a complete line of ultrapure, linear alpha olefins in 11 distinct carbon-length fractions from C4 through C30+.

``NAO product demand is growing, and this new facility will enable us to grow with our customers and reliably meet their future needs,'' said Chevron Chemical SVP Darry Callahan. ``The plant will incorporate our latest technological improvements, resulting in product with higher alpha content and upgraded wax fractions that can be used in more applications,'' he added.

Alpha olefins are chemical intermediates used to make a variety of products, including polyethylenes, surfactants, synthetic lubricants and additives. New applications continue to be found for these versatile products.

The company selected Bechtel to perform engineering, procurement and construction services.