Plant Project in Alberta Williams Cos. (Tulsa) said Oct. 28 it was proceeding to the next phase of development for its planned propane dehydrogenation (PDH) facility near Edmonton, Alta., Canada. The plant will have a capacity of 525 kilotons per annum (KTA) of polymergrade propylene production and will use low-cost, locally sourced propane as its feedstock. Williams has concurrently signed an agreement with privately held North American Polypropylene (NAPP), an affiliate of Goradia Capital, a private equity global developer of projects and a marketer of petrochemical products.

Under the agreement, NAPP will purchase 450 KTA of propylene on a 25-year term firm fee-for-services basis for production of homopolymer polypropylene, a recyclable plastic used widely in many consumer and industrial products. NAPP’s project will be based on UNIPOL polypropylene technology and will be located on the same site as Williams’ PDH unit.

The next development phase includes primary detail engineering and commitments to equipment. Williams expects a final investment decision by the second half of 2016. Planned startup of the PDH facility and the polypropylene plant is at the end of 2019.

“Together, these projects will add value to Alberta’s natural resources, creating jobs and diversification of the Alberta economy,” said David Chappell, president of Williams Energy Canada. “Once operational, the complex will be globally competitive and well positioned to access North American and world markets. Longer term, this platform will provide the foundation for a larger petrochemical complex, including a co-located PDH 2 facility.”