HOUSTON - Lyondell Petrochemical Co. of Houston restarted olefins production March 23 at its Channelview, Texas, petrochemicals facility after a problem with a compressor shut down the line. Lyondell declared force majeure for shipments of ethylene after the line went down March 12, saying it expected to be able to ship 90-95 percent of its contractual obligations for ethylene. The company expected its declaration to be in effect for four to six weeks.
The line produces about half of the company's 3.6 billion pounds of ethylene made each year, according to David Balderston, director of investor relations.
While Balderston confirmed that Lyondell restarted the line and that production was expected to be back to normal more quickly than anticipated, he said he did not believe the declaration of force majeure would be changed.
