Butadiene industry hit by a second blast

摘要

UK-Lotte Chemical has been hit by an explosion at its butadiene production facility in South Korea-the second such incident to occur in the industry over recent months.On 4 March,a blast at the Korean supplier's production plant in the southwestern city of Seosan injured 31 people,according to various news agencies-the company could not be reached for confirmation.The incident reportedly centred on the naphtha cracking unit of the plant,which produces,propylene and ethylene as well as butadiene with all operations suspended after the incident.Reports pegged butadiene capacity at the facility at 150 kilotonnes per annum(ktpa),representing around 11% of the total South Korean butadiene production-raising the possibility of supply and feedstock cost issues for synthetic rubber producers.