CNPC still undecided on PX project at Kunming

China’s chemical project in Kunming, capital city of Yunnan province, is still being discussed and evaluated for setting up a project for production of paraxylene or PX, company officials of China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) said at a news conference.

 
A final decision over the setting up of the PX plant is expected to be taken by July, 2013, Hu Jingke, general manager of CNPC Yunnan Petrochemical Co Ltd, said.

 
At the moment, there is no plan to include PX manufacturing project at the CNPC oil refinery, located in Anning, a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Kunming Prefecture.

 
PX is a petrochemical by-product that is used as a raw material in the production of polyester fabrics.

 
However, general manager of Kunming-based Yuntianhua Petrochemical Co Ltd announced at the same press conference that the company plans to process the by-products of CNPC oil refinery, including xylene mixture or MX, a source material for PX, and further make it into pure terephthalic acid.

 
Earlier this month, hundreds of people protested in Kunming against the CNPC’s proposal to build PX plant in Anning. People expressed their concern over the likely set up of the project as PX is considered carcinogenic.

 
At the press conference, it was announced that a stricter environmental review will be conducted by a third-party and the final decision on setting up of the PX production project will be taken by the public.