JV plans PBS production in Thailand

PTTMCC Biochem, a joint venture between PTT and Mitsubishi Chemical, is developing a polybutylene succinate (PBS) plant in Thailand.

The joint venture has selected BioAmber, a renewable chemistry company, to build the plant and the company is scheduled the break ground on it in 2012.

The plant will be built close to PTTMCC's PBS plant at the Map Ta Phut site in Rayong, and both these facilities are scheduled to be operational in 2014. PTTMCC is now carrying out a feasibility study to decide on the succinic acid plant's exact location.

The plant will be able to produce 65,000 tonnes of succinic acid when it reaches full capacity.

BioAmber is planning to produce 50,000 tonnes of biobased 1,4-butanediol on the site, using its technology licensed exclusively from DuPont to convert biobased succinic acid directly to 1,4-butanediol in an integrated process. PTTMCC will help BioAmber secure biomass for the plant.