Shell Chemical Appalachia LLC, a subsidiary of Shell plc, has commenced operations of its Pennsylvania Chemical project, Shell Polymers Monaca (SPM). It is the first major polyethylene manufacturing complex in the Northeastern United States and has a designed output of 1.6 million tonnes annually.

Shell started main construction at Shell Polymers Monaca in April 2017 after taking a Final Investment Decision in June 2016. The plant is expected to ramp up to full production by the second half of 2023 and will serve customers who manufacture commodity and specialty films, pipe, blow-moulded containers and injection-moulded parts.

The plant will have three reactors: two gas phase reactors and a slurry reactor.

Shell Downstream Director Huibert Vigeveno said the facility has great market access, innovative offers and connected infrastructure.

“Shell Polymers Monaca is well positioned and ready to serve customers with high-quality, competitive products.”

SPM contracted most of its natural gas feedstock at Final Investment Decision from the nearby Utica and Marcellus basins.

The start-up of Shell Polymers Monaca represents an important step in growing Shell’s chemicals business as part of its Powering Progress strategy. The company is increasingly participating in value chains closer to end-use customers and using advantaged feedstocks to deliver more high value products while reducing exposure to commodity chemicals over time.

“I’m proud that in delivering this facility we’ve had a strong and innovative safety focus; invested in the community through employment and education; and helped repair and improve the local environment by remediating a brownfield site. These commitments are core to Shell’s Powering Progress strategy today and will remain so in the years to come,” said Vigeveno.