Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering, Ltd. (MHIENG), and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc. (MHIA), group companies of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) have received an order for construction of a large-scale polyethylene plant with annual production capacity of 1.3 million tonnes. The order derives from a joint project with the major U.S. construction firm, Zachry Group, and was received from Gulf Coast Growth Ventures LLC (GCGV), a joint venture of ExxonMobil and Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC). The polyethylene plant will be part of a large ethylene complex GCGV plans to build near Corpus Christi, Texas. MHIENG will handle the design details, supply and procurement of equipment, and building of the modules.

Polyethylene polymers are used in a number of everyday applications such as food packaging, agriculture films, and construction materials.

ExxonMobil and MHIENG have a positive relationship, and have built similar polyethylene plants in Singapore in 2011, and Texas in 2017. An additional large-scale polyethylene plant is currently under construction in Beaumont, Texas, making this latest order the fourth consecutive project.

For this project, MHIENG proposed using an innovative, modular construction strategy to improve capital efficiency and to optimize the client's schedule. The order was received through a FEED(1) competition that commenced in October 2017.

The U.S. chemical plant market is expanding rapidly with increased production of shale gas. MHIENG, in cooperation with MHIA, which is headquartered in Houston, Texas (where major chemical plant customers are concentrated), will continue its relationship with ExxonMobil as well as other major clients, and actively pursue partnerships in the vibrant U.S. chemical plant market.

(1) Front-End Engineering Design, an engineering-led approach to determine the feasibility of a project and the basic design in advance.

About Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Going forward, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) will continue to devote its Groupwide capabilities to building new ships, and refitting existing vessels, for carrying LPG and liquefied natural gas (LNG) through the newly expanded Panama Canal, thereby contributing to efficient marine transport of energy worldwide.

About ExxonMobil

ExxonMobil, the largest publicly traded international oil and gas company, uses technology and innovation to help meet the world’s growing energy needs. ExxonMobil holds an industry-leading inventory of resources, is one of the largest refiners and marketers of petroleum products and its chemical company is one of the largest in the world.

About SABIC

SABIC is a global leader in diversified chemicals headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. SABIC manufactures on a global scale in the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific, making distinctly different kinds of products: chemicals, commodity and high performance plastics, agri-nutrients and metals. SABIC supports customers by identifying and developing opportunities in key end markets such as construction, medical devices, packaging, agri-nutrients, electrical and electronics, transportation and clean energy.