14 September 2011
Overview
PTTMCC Biochem (PTTMCC), a joint venture between
PTT PLC and Mitsubishi Chemical, has selected BioAmber Inc,
as its partner for a polybutylene succinate (PBS) plant that
will begin construction in Thailand in 2012.
BioAmber will build a biobased succinic acid plant in Thailand
and supply PTT MCC with biobased succinic acid on
exclusive basis.
Succinic acid is the principal starting material for the
production of PBS, along with 1,4-butanediol (BDO)
PTTMCC plans to take an interest in BioAmber's
succinic acid plant and secure off-take agreement for
portion of the plant's capacity.
Timeframe
The plant will be built in proximity to PTTMCC's PBS plant.
and both plants are expected to come online in 2014.
After evaluating the various biosuccinic acid technologies,
PTTMCC concluded that BioAmber's platform offered the
lowest cost biosuccinic acid and the lowest technology risk.
By securing BioAmber's cost competitive succinic acid,
PTTMCC expects to drive down the manufacturing cost of
biobased PBS, a renewable, biodegradable polymers that
has significant growth potential and strong patent protection
thanks to a recently issued Mitsubishi Chemical patent.
Plant location
The partners have begun a feasibility study to determine
the exact location of the succinic acid plant, which could be
built next to the PBS plant at the Map Ta Phut site
in Rayong province, Thailand.
Plant production capacity
At peak capacity BioAmber expects to produce
* 65,000 MT of succinic acid on the site and
* 50,000 MT of biobased 1,4-butanediol (BDO)
using its technology licensed exclusively from Dupont
to convert biobased succinic acid directly to 1,4-butanediol
Raw material sourcing
PTTMCC will help BioAmber secure biomass for the plant,
which will initially source sugar from cane and/or tapioca,
and subsequently biomass sugars.
Mitsubishi Chemical
* BioAmber operates the world's only large-scale
biobased succinic acid plant and is already
Mitsubishi Chemical's sole supplier of biobased
succinic acid.
* BioAmber has proven the quality and cost of its
biosuccinic acid and we have been working together
for a number of months to further improve the
technology.
* Partnering with BioAmber will allows PTTMCC to
have competitive biosuccinic acid from a local source by
2014
PTTMCC
* Securing the lowest cost succinic acid was a priority
for PTTMCC.
* BioAmber's commitment to building a large-scale plant
in Thailand will benefit PTTMCC company and represents
a major investment in Thailand by a leading US-based
renewable chemicals company.
BioAmber
* This partnership is a testament to BioAmber's market
leadership in succinic acid.
* With its strong patent portfolio, PTTMCC Biochem is
poised to be the dominant player in biobased PBS and
this partnership gives BioAmber a strong position in
a fast growing segment of the biosuccinic acid market.
