To produce HDPE and MDPE, the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC, Beijing; www.cnooc.com.cn) has purchased a licence from Ineos (Rolle / Switzerland; www.ineos.com) utilising the Swiss company's "Innovene S" process technology. CNOOC is planning to build a plant with a capacity of 400,000 t/y at its Huizhou petrochemical site in the southern province of Guangdong / China. As a response to the growing demand for HDPE within the country, the plant will produce a wide range of polyethylene grades including both commodity and specialty grades such as bimodal PE 100 pipe products.

No date was provided when the plant would be ready for commissioning. CNOOC recently purchased a PP license from Dow – see also Plasteurope.com of 01.07.2013.