Yankuang’s 400,000-ton ethylene glycol plant passed its performance assessment on the first attempt
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Recently, the 400,000-ton per year ethylene glycol production facility of Yankuang Group Rongxin Chemical, which was constructed on a turnkey basis by China Chemical using patented technology with complete independent intellectual property rights, passed a 72-hour performance test. All performance indicators met the values specified in the EPC contract, thus enabling the facility to successfully pass this performance assessment. The Rongxin ethylene glycol plant is currently the largest coal-based ethylene glycol facility in China that was built using the EPC model. In addition to taking charge of process development, design, procurement, and construction, Sinochem is also responsible for the plant’s commissioning, startup, and performance testing, thus covering the entire project construction process. The rational optimization of the combined production processes across Rongxin Chemical’s entire plant, along with the advanced technology used in its ethylene glycol production facilities, particularly the leading levels in China regarding factors such as raw material consumption and utility usage in these facilities, result in significantly lower production costs for ethylene glycol compared to similar plants in the country. This gives the company a strong competitive edge, especially during the period of low ethylene glycol prices in the first half of this year. It also provides new ideas and directions for the development of the coal-based ethylene glycol industry.
The Rongxin ethylene glycol plant is the only large-scale coal-based ethylene glycol facility that has been built and put into operation in the past two years, during the period of significant expansion in the production of coal-based ethylene glycol, and it has successfully passed performance tests. It marks the beginning of a second \"golden decade\" for China’s coal-based ethylene glycol industry, characterized by rapid increases in production capacity, continuous technological advancements, and ongoing innovation in this sector. The construction of the Rongxin ethylene glycol plant went through two harsh winter seasons in the northern region; it was successfully commissioned on December 28, 2019, setting a new record in China’s ethylene glycol industry for the fastest commissioning time of a new plant during such harsh winter conditions, as well as for producing qualified products from the very first attempt. Since the project was put into operation, all parties involved have overcome the adverse effects of the pandemic by working together closely, which enabled the facility to reach full capacity operations shortly after the Spring Festival. At present, the products of this project have been sold to polyester manufacturers in regions such as Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
The ethylene glycol plant is part of Rongxin Chemical’s Phase II project. The second phase of Rongxin Chemical Project is located on the edge of the Kubuqi Desert in northern Inner Mongolia. With a total investment of 7.68 billion yuan, all facilities are constructed under the EPC turnkey contract model. Using coal as raw material, through processes such as gasification, shift reaction, low-temperature methanol washing, cryogenic separation, PSA hydrogen extraction, ethylene glycol synthesis, methanol synthesis, and dimethyl methyl ether (DMMn) synthesis, the project produces 400,000 tons of ethylene glycol, 900,000 tons of methanol, and 300,000 tons of DMMn annually. Building on the first phase of Rongxin Chemical’s project, the second phase expands the scale of the production facilities, extends the industrial chain, and increases the added value of the products. It represents an important step in advancing industrial integration, as well as a necessary condition for the development of regional industrial clusters. Additionally, it creates more job opportunities locally, promotes regional economic development, and brings significant social benefits.