Shell Eastern Petrochemicals Complex to start up 2nd unit

Just two and a half months after the opening of Shell's mono-ethylene glycol plant, its ethylene cracker complex is now being prepped for start-up.

Major construction activities have been completed for the 800,000 tonnes per annum cracker, the second new unit at the Shell Eastern Petrochemicals Complex. Prior to official start-up, flames known as "flares" will be seen at the top of the petrochemical plant's chimneys as part of routine when commissioning a unit such as the ECC.

SEPC Venture Director Simon Lam said, "Flares at refineries and chemical plants are a normal and vital part of keeping facilities running safely during start-up, unplanned operational interruptions or scheduled maintenance activities. Members of the public need not be concerned as carbon dioxide, water, and occasionally some soot are almost the only substances produced. They are not hazardous. Shell takes flares seriously and aggressively manages them at our sites, aiming for zero routine flaring."

Regulatory limits are complied with during flaring, which serves as a "safety relief valve" for facilities.