Inter Pipeline commissions plant that sources propane as feedstock

Inter Pipeline Ltd., a petroleum transportation and natural gas liquids-processing business based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, commissioned its polypropylene plant and has begun initial production under the brand Heartland Polymers.

Propane is converted into polypropylene. (Photo: MBPROJEKT_Maciej_Bledowski/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images)

The entire Heartland complex remains on schedule for an integrated startup in the third quarter of this year, at which point Heartland will begin commercial production, according to the company.

Construction of the complex began in early 2018. It is expected to convert locally sourced, low-cost propane into 525,000 tons per year of polypropylene, a high-value, multi-use plastic that is easily transported and can be recycled. This polymer is used in the manufacturing of a range of finished products such as food packaging, textiles, health care products and medical supplies.

The polypropylene plant was commissioned using polymer grade propylene feedstock from a cavern at Inter Pipeline’s Redwater Olefinic Fractionator. The primary source of feedstock will be an on-site propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant, which will consume 22,000 barrels per day of propane and turn it into polymer grade propylene. The PDH plant is expected to enter integrated service with the polypropylene plant in the third quarter of this year.

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