World-Scale Methyl Methacrylate Plant Planned in Bay City, Texas

Oman’ OQ Chemicals (formerly Oxea), a global manufacturer of Oxo intermediates and Oxo performance chemicals such as alcohols, polyols, carboxylic acids, specialty esters, and amines has signed a final investment decision (FID) to build additional capacity of propionic aldehyde as well as infrastructure at its Bay City, Texas site. This is to support Röhm, one of the leading methacrylate producers, in constructing a world-scale methyl methacrylate (MMA) plant. MMA is the key monomer of acrylic resins.

The new MMA plant has a design capacity of 551 million lb/yr and will utilize Röhms’ latest proprietary LiMA technology. OQ Chemicals will integrate the plant into its Bay City production site, and provide raw materials, utilities, and site services to Röhm. In 2021 both companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding in this regard. Based on the engineering progress of both parties, all other arrangements for construction are now complete. The new plant is slated to be mechanically complete by first quarter 2021

Said OQ Chemicals CEO Oliver Borgmeier, "This project goes by ‘Propel’, which is short for ‘Propyls Elevated’. We are excited to have achieved FID on Propel and can move ahead as planned. At OQ Chemicals, we are looking forward to welcoming Röhm to our site in Bay City. I am convinced that both companies will greatly benefit from our future cooperation and combined expertise,"

Said CEO of Röhm’s CEO Michael Pack, “The realization of such a project requires well-experienced and trustworthy partners. We are proud to have OQ on our side. This guarantees customers the highest level of supply security,” he added.