Revamping of a pure terephthalic acid (PTA) project commenced at a sub-branch of the Liaoyang Petrol-Chemical Co. in northeast China's Liaoning province Friday.

The project is among the first batch of state-approved projects built with state bonds to transform state-owned enterprises at traditional industrial bases in northeast China.

PTA, a basic ingredient in polyester fiber and other polyester products, is in high demand in China and the Asia-Pacific region.

The project, approved by the central government in Sept. 2003, will cost an estimated 2.925 billion yuan (about 350 million US dollars). It will adopt advanced technology of US-based Du Pont Co. Key equipment will be imported from the United States and Germany.

When the revamping project completes in June 2006, it will turn out an additional 530,000 tons of pta to bring its total annual output to 800,000 tons, alleviating huge demand of pta on domestic market.

Source: Xinhua