ExxonMobil Chemical Announces a Licensing Agreement for the World's Largest LDPE Tubular Reactor

Business Wire, Jan 20, 2005

HOUSTON -- ExxonMobil Chemical Technology Licensing, LLC announces it has signed an agreement with Huntsman Petrochemical (UK) Limited to license ExxonMobil's tubular process technology for Huntsman's new world-scale low density polyethylene (LDPE) plant. The 400 kilotonnes-per-year (kta) plant, to be built in Teesside, England, will be the world's largest LDPE reactor. Work is expected to start on the new facility in January 2005 with completion expected in late 2007.

ExxonMobil Chemical's advanced high pressure tubular LDPE process technology will enable Huntsman to benefit from the efficiencies of the world's first 400 kta LDPE plant. The highly efficient design of the Huntsman plant will be based on current state-of-the-art reactors operated or designed by ExxonMobil Chemical to manufacture LDPE products. In addition to Huntsman, ExxonMobil has six licensees of its proprietary LDPE process technology around the world.

"We license the same state-of-the-art technology we use everyday in ExxonMobil Chemical plants around the world", said George Barile, vice president, ExxonMobil Chemical Technology Licensing, LLC. "From our success with this technology, we believe the Huntsman plant will set a new global standard for LDPE production and will stimulate more demand for this proprietary 400 kta design."

ExxonMobil Chemical has over 35 years' experience as one of the world's premier low density polyethylene producers with 1,500 kta of installed capacity at five locations around the world.

In September 2004, Huntsman announced its plans to build the plant at Teesside at an estimated cost of GBP 200 million. "Since the Teesside plant represents our first venture into the manufacture of LDPE in Europe, we wanted to go with technology where we had a high level of confidence. We chose the ExxonMobil Chemical technology due to its long history of proven safety, reliability, product quality and world-class conversions - up to 40 percent," said Kevin Ninow, divisional president, Huntsman Base Chemicals & Polymers.

ExxonMobil Chemical Technology Licensing, LLC is a globally recognized licensor of proprietary technologies, either directly or through partner companies. The technology offerings span petrochemical and polymer sectors including manufacturing technologies for tubular/autoclave LDPE, xylene, paraxylene, benzene, mixed xylenes, ethylbenzene, cumene, propylene and ethylene with supporting proprietary catalyst offering in the aromatics process technology areas. For additional information see the ExxonMobil Chemical Web site at www.ExxonMobilChemical.com and click on the "Technology" menu.

ExxonMobil Chemical is a global leader in technology, product quality and customer service with petrochemical manufacturing and/or marketing operations in more than 150 countries around the world. Its products include olefins, aromatics, fluids, synthetic rubber, polyethylene, polypropylene, oriented polypropylene packaging films, plasticizers, synthetic lubricant basestocks and additives for fuels and lubricants.

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