24-07-09 A Peruvian-Chilean partnership plans to start construction on a $ 650 mm petrochemical project in southern Peru in the first quarter of 2010, a company representative said.
Jaime Quijandria was quoted as saying the Nitratos del Peru consortium of Peru's Brescia group and Chilean company Sigdo Koppers expects the Energy and Mines Ministry to approve its environmental impact study for the twin plants by December. The first plant, which will produce ammonium nitrate, should come online 30 months later, Quijandria said.

He added that Nitratos del Peru is awaiting approval from Argentine oil company Pluspetrol, the head of the consortium operating the Camisea gas fields, to provide it with 72 mm cf of gas a day for 20 years to operate the plant. The production will be aimed at the domestic market, and any surplus will be exported to neighbouring Chile, Quijandria said.
Late last year, US fertilizer manufacturer CF Industries Holdings said it would invest around $ 1 bn in a urea and ammonia complex also in southern Peru.

"The important thing is to have certain zones where it makes sense to develop the petrochemical industry," Deputy Energy Minister Daniel Camac told.
He said there is room for the two plants because they will not both serve the domestic market.
"The domestic demand is exceeded with one plant," he added.