UOP Technology Licensed to Eurochem to Convert Methanol to Olefins in New Nigerian...

UOP Technology Licensed to Eurochem to Convert Methanol to Olefins in New Nigerian Petrochemicals Plant

First commercial-scale plant to use UOP technology to produce olefins
from methanol derived from natural gas
DES PLAINES, Ill.--(Business Wire)--UOP LLC, a Honeywell (NYSE:HON) company, announced today that Viva
Methanol Limited, a subsidiary of Eurochem, has selected the UOP/Hydro
MTO process technology and the Total Petrochemicals/UOP Olefin
Cracking process technology to produce light olefins - the basic
building blocks for plastics - from natural gas-derived methanol at a
new Viva Polymers Ltd. facility in Nigeria.

The project will be the first commercial-scale installation of the
MTO process and Olefin Cracking process technologies. The facility,
located within the Lagos Free Trade Zone, Nigeria, will produce
olefins from methanol derived from natural gas, an attractive,
"cost-advantaged" feedstock that is plentiful in the region.

The new facility will produce 1.3 million metric tons of ethylene
and propylene annually for the production of polyethylene and
polypropylene, which are used in the production of plastics for
packaging, pipes, carpeting, film and other products. UOP will provide
technology license, basic engineering, catalysts, adsorbents,
specialty equipment, and technical support. The new plant is expected
to come online in 2012.

"Methanol-to-olefins technology will allow us to use natural gas
available in Nigeria and is more cost effective than traditional
olefin production from crude oil derived feedstocks," said Mr Mohan K
Vaswani, chairman of Viva Methanol Limited. "With 10,000 metric tons
of methanol produced per day, this will be the largest methanol
production facility in the world, and UOP technology will help us
convert this methanol to high-value olefins to support growing
plastics demand."

"We are very pleased to see the substantial progress that Viva
Methanol Limited has made towards the implementation of this project,"
said Jim D'Auria, director of UOP's petrochemicals business. "The
natural gas to olefins route will provide a significant competitive
edge to petrochemicals producers."

UOP previously completed the basic engineering design for an
earlier version of this project in 2003, but the project will now take
advantage of the latest advances in methanol, methanol-to-olefins, and
olefin cracking technologies to achieve significantly greater
economies of scale and unparalleled yields and efficiencies with this
facility.

The MTO technology, jointly developed by UOP and Norsk Hydro ASA,
converts methanol to ethylene and propylene. The process, based upon
proprietary UOP catalysts, is proven to provide high yields with
minimal byproducts. It is designed for flexibility of the quantity of
each product produced, which allows producers to adjust levels to
match shifting market demands. The Olefin Cracking process, jointly
developed by UOP and Total Petrochemicals, can be integrated with the
MTO process to increase the yield of ethylene and propylene within the
plant and minimize hydrocarbon byproducts.

Viva Methanol Limited is a Nigerian subsidiary of Eurochem
Corporation Pte. Ltd. a privately-owned company based in Singapore.

UOP LLC, headquartered in Des Plaines, Illinois, USA, is a leading
international supplier and licensor of process technology, catalysts,
adsorbents, process plants, and consulting services to the petroleum
refining, petrochemical, and gas processing industries. UOP is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Honeywell International, Inc. and is part
of Honeywell's Specialty Materials strategic business group. For more
information, go to www.uop.com.

Honeywell International is a $36 billion diversified technology
and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace
products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and
industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials.
Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell's shares are traded on the
New York, London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges. It is one of the 30
stocks that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is also a
component of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. For additional
information, please visit www.honeywell.com.

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All
statements, other than statements of fact, that address activities,
events or developments that we or our management intend, expect,
project, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on
management's assumptions and assessments in light of past experience
and trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other
relevant factors. They are not guarantees of future performance, and
actual results, developments and business decisions may differ from
those envisaged by our forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking
statements are also subject to risks and uncertainties, which can
affect our performance in both the near- and long-term. We identify
the principal risks and uncertainties that affect our performance in
our Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

UOP LLC
Susan Gross
(847) 391-2380
Susan.gross@uop.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008