Poland's PKN Orlen, which claims to be the largest oil and petrochemicals producer in the former East Bloc, has announced plans to widen its production capacity for phenol and acetone.

The company said output of phenol — an important starting material for a variety of chemical processes, in particular for producing the polyamide precursor caprolactam — will be lifted from currently about 50,000 t/y to 200,000 t/y, with the first expansion stage due to be completed in 2017. Production of acetone will be increased to more than 100,000 t/y from about 50,000 t/y.

At present, around 70% of Polish demand for phenol is met by imports - mostly from Germany, Belgium and Finland, and PKN said it wants to increase its share of the market against international competition.

Altogether, the petrochemicals giant intends to spend 2.7 billion zloty (some €638 million) on a comprehensive development plan to upgrade its production technology, with an eye to saving energy and feedstock input. Up to Aug. 23, it surveyed capabilities of Polish and international contractors to design and build new facilities and will invite tenders through its Connect online procurement platform.