Oxea said it is continuing with the detailed engineering for a propanol unit at its world-scale production plant at Bay City, Texas, U.S.A., to better serve its customers in North and Latin America. The unit is scheduled to come on stream in late 2017.

Propanol is used to manufacture products such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, printing inks, coatings and adhesives.

Key elements of the detailed engineering work will also be utilized for the construction of Oxea’s future Asian Oxo chemicals platform in Duqm, Oman.

“Oxea is a leading merchant supplier of Oxo products such as alcohols, aldehyde and acids. We continue to significantly invest into our production platforms, especially for propanol, to support the growth of our customers and meet the rising demands of the markets,” said Miguel Mantas, member of Oxea’s Executive Board and responsible for marketing and sales.

“The new facility for propanol in North America not only supports our strategy of growing the business and enhancing the efficiency of our operations. It also emphasizes our confidence in the competitiveness of the U.S. petrochemical industry and reinforces our commitment to the North and Latin American markets,” said Martina Flöel, spokesperson for the Oxea Executive Board, who is also responsible for production and technology.

Oxea, which is owned by Oman Oil Company S.A.O.C., is a global manufacturer of oxo intermediates and oxo derivatives, such as alcohols, polyols, carboxylic acids, specialty esters and amines. These products are used for the production of high-quality coatings, lubricants, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products, flavorings and fragrances, printing inks and plastics.