Japan’s Sumitomo Chemical has agreed to license its polypropylene (PP) and propylene oxide (PO) technologies to South Korean oil refining company, S-Oil.

S-Oil operates a complex at Ulsan, South Korea, producing fuel, base oils and petrochemicals. In September, it took a final investment decision to upgrade the refinery, adding a residual fluid catalytic cracker (RFCC) to yield gasoline and propylene, together with downstream plants to produce 405,000 t/y of PP and 300,000 t/y of PO. Completion is scheduled for the first half of 2018.

Sumitomo said its PO technology produces no coproducts and recycles the accompanying cumene, which results in a high PO yield and more stable plant operation. The company said it intends to strengthen its competitiveness by continually developing innovative technologies that will expand its portfolio and through its global licensing activities.