Laura Chamorro is polymers general manager for Shell Chemical in Houston. In 2022, Shell opened a major petrochemicals site, including polyethylene resin production, in Monaca, Pa., near Pittsburgh. It was the first major U.S. resin operation built outside of Texas or Louisiana in more than 40 years.
Chamorro was named to her current role in 2021. She joined Shell in 2012 after holding a variety of roles at Dow Inc. for 13 years.
Q: How close is Shell to full production in Monaca? Is there a timetable for that?
Chamorro: Shell Polymers Monaca is fully operational and producing products from all three polyethylene units and are well on our way to reaching our full production capacity.
Q: What end markets have done well so far? Is the focus still on domestic sales or has Shell sold PE into export markets as well?
Chamorro: Our portfolio includes LLDPE (linear low density PE) and HDPE (high density PE) products that meet a wide variety of end use requirements and geographic demand. Our strategy to focus on meeting the needs of the North American market remains unchanged, though we have and will continue to participate in the global market as we progress our market entry.
Q: There's been talk about global ethylene and PE markets being oversupplied. How does that affect Shell's Pennsylvania operations?
Chamorro: North American producers based on natural gas feedstocks continue to realize a feedstock advantage relative to liquid fed crackers in other regions, which supports Shell Polymers' focus on maximizing production.
Q: How has sustainability affected Shell's strategy?
Chamorro: Our sustainability agenda is focused on two goals: reducing the carbon footprint of our products and enabling the circular economy. At Shell Polymers, we've invested in advanced recycling to enable a circular polyethylene offering. We have pyrolysis oil processing capability at our Norco Chemicals site on the [U.S. Gulf Coast], and through ISCC Plus, we use mass balancing to produce circular polyethylene at Shell Polymers Monaca.
Q: What steps has Shell taken to improve plastic recycling?
Chamorro: Shell Polymers supports the need for improved circularity in the global plastics markets, encouraging the reduction, reuse and recycling of plastics to avoid the release of plastic into the environment.
Using the latest technology in the Shell Polymers Monaca Innovation Center, we can collaborate with customers to help innovate their product design to ensure efficient use of materials, the ability to recycle and, where appropriate, their reuse.
Shell is a founding member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, a global non-profit whose goal is to help every plastic resin handling operation achieve net zero plastic resin loss. The Alliance, which is made up of a consortium of industrial, consumer-facing, and other companies, addresses the plastics resin loss issue, particularly in the marine environment. Our participation in the Alliance is driven by our sincere interest to find solutions, gain support, and bring attention to pathways to address plastic waste in the environment.