Ineos Phenol has decided to build its planned world-scale cumene plant in Marl, Germany. The company revealed plans last July for the plant, which will use existing pipeline connections between the Ineos site in Gladbeck, Germany, and Evonik’s Chemiepark site in Marl, and also link into the BP refinery and cracker complex in nearby Gelsenkirchen.

The location and connections, said Ineos, will allow the plant to be highly efficient with raw material integration into the BP complex and access to the Marl harbor inland waterway connection. Hans Casier, CEO of Ineos Phenol, said the excellent logistics of the Marl chemical park will underpin its phenol and acetone sites in Europe.

A front end engineering and design (FEED) study has started, with a final investment decision now expected to be taken by the end of 2018. The plant, which will use technology from US contractor Badger, is anticipated to be completed in 2020. Capacity details were not disclosed.