Oil and gas group Sonatrach (Algiers / Algeria; www.sonatrach.com) has announced that it has signed an agreement with Total (Paris / France; www.total.com) on the 51:49 joint venture for PP production that was announced in spring 2018 – see Plasteurope.com of 16.05.2018. Sonatrach Total Entreprise Polymères (STEP) will invest about USD 1.3 bn in a propane dehydrogenation (PDH) unit for propylene as well as a PP line, each with a capacity of 550,000 t/y. The plant is to be at Arzew / Algeria, on the Mediterranean coast in northwestern Algeria.

A time frame for completion has not been given, but a rough estimate could see commissioning from 2022. The quantities are intended primarily for the local market and the Mediterranean area. Total will be responsible for marketing to other regions in Europe.