Fushun Petrochemical postpones ethylene unit start-up

China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC) said that its subsidiary Fushun Petrochemical plans to process 9.7 million tons of crude and produce 6.1 million tons of gasoline, diesel and kerosene in 2009. However, its ethylene operations may be stalled. Fushun announced it may have to postpone the operation of an ethylene production unit for at least three months due to the delayed completion of a supplier project. According to CNPC, a refining project intended to supply feedstock to Fushun’s ethylene unit is under structural adjustment and may come on line in 2010, months after its earlier scheduled operational time of September 2009. (January 20, 2009)