Sasol’s Lake Charles project faces more delays

Sasol announced in an updated factsheet that several factors have negatively impacted the start-up schedule of its Lake Charles Chemicals Project (LCCP) in Louisiana, the US.

The company stated that the LCCP, consisting of a world-scale ethane cracker and six downstream units, experienced major cost overruns due to several factors, within and beyond the control of management.

Sasol stated that scope additions and productivity losses stemming from public holidays and inclement weather have resulted in an increase in the project’s overall costs.

As part of the updated schedule, the start-up of the 1.5 million tons/year cracker has been delayed until August and LDPE plant will start operations in July, instead of the previously announced March.

Sasol also announced that the new LLDPE unit produced its first product in January this year and beneficial operation is expected within the current month.