ECI Group has announced the signing of a licensing agreement with Shaanxi Yanchang China Coal Yulin Energy & Chemical Co., Ltd. (YECC) for the development of a 150,000-ton-per-year copolymer plant. YECC is a subsidiary of Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum Group, China’s fourth-largest oil producer, and operates significant petrochemical facilities in Shaanxi, Northwestern China. The new plant will be located in Yangqiaopan, Jingbian County, Yulin City, Shaanxi Province, and will use ECI Group’s proprietary hybrid reactor technology. This technology will allow the plant to produce a variety of high-value copolymer products such as LDPE, EVA, and EBA, with potential for future capacity and product expansion.

ECI Group’s contribution to the project includes providing the technology license, process design package, an expanded process design package, detailed design for the high-pressure system, and technical procurement services. Additionally, ECI will offer on-site technical support throughout the installation, start-up, and performance assessment phases. Repsol, with over 40 years of experience in producing LDPE, EVA, and EBA at their facilities in Spain and Portugal, will support the project by providing technical, operational, and commercial expertise.

The hybrid reactor technology developed by ECI Group is based on the proven ICI autoclave technology and offers a broad range of high-pressure polyethylene products with increased operational efficiency, reliability, and flexibility. ECI’s advancements in the technology have enhanced product range, reliability, and expandability compared to the original ICI system. These improvements leverage modern materials, design techniques, and best practices for construction, operation, and maintenance. Since 2021, ECI Group has licensed plants with capacities ranging from 50kta to 200kta, using a standardized design approach.

Joaquin Flores, President and CEO of ECI Group, expressed his satisfaction, stating, “We are honored that Shaanxi Yanchang China Coal Yulin Energy & Chemical Company selected our technology after a competitive tendering process, and we look forward to delivering a successful project.” Chris Brock, ECI Group’s Business and Technology Director for HPPE, added, “Our hybrid reactor technology sets a new standard for high-pressure polyethylene plant design, combining production efficiency with a broad product range. We are excited to bring this innovative solution to more clients worldwide.”

ECI Group is a global leader in polymer technology, offering proprietary technology licenses and multi-discipline engineering services for high-pressure polyethylene projects. ECI Group is now the world's most experienced LDPE contractor, with a track record of building plants across six continents for more than 60 years. While ECI Group embraces new technologies, expands its services, and takes steps to enhance sustainability in response to economic and environmental challenges, the core values of exemplary engineering and planning established by the company’s founders continue to guide all its activities. These values will remain at the heart of the company as it evolves into a global organization.