UK-based contractor TechnipFMC has won a contract from Long Son Petrochemicals to provide technology along with engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and start-up services for its proposed olefins complex in Vietnam.

Located on Long Son Island, Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, the complex comprises a flexible feed cracker, using both naphtha and LPG to produce up to 1.6 million t/y of olefins, depending on the feedstock mix. Start-up is anticipated in the first half of 2023.

The facility will license TechnipFMC’s proprietary process technology for the C3 hydrogenation, C4/C5 hydrogenation, pyrolysis gasoline hydrogenation and butadiene recovery units, as well as its Ultra Selective Conversion furnaces and Heat-integrated Rectifier System for energy-efficient ethylene recovery.

TechnipFMC is leading a consortium that also includes South Korean contractor, SK Engineering & Construction. The London-headquartered contractor will execute all engineering as well as procuring critical equipment from its operational centers in Houston, Texas, USA; Rome, Italy and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Nello Uccelletti, president of TechnipFMC’s onshore/offshore business, said the group’s reliable proprietary ethylene technology and proven engineering, procurement and construction capabilities were key factors in winning the project. The company has previously worked on the country’s first oil refinery at Dung Quat and the Phy My fertilizer complex.

The olefins plant will be Vietnam’s first and will help meet the country’s rising demand for petrochemicals.