INEOS Celebrates 10 Years of U.S. Shale Ethane Deliveries to Grangemouth
INEOS, an international energy company, has reached a significant milestone in its U.S. shale ethane supply chain. It's been 10 years since the first shipment of U.S. shale ethane arrived at its Grangemouth complex in Scotland on September 28, 2016. This marked the beginning of a new era for the company as it established a reliable supply route to feed its petrochemical operations.
The project, which cost $2 billion to develop, was designed to address declining North Sea gas availability and secure a steady flow of ethane to the Grangemouth site. The first purpose-built Dragon-class vessel, JS INEOS Insight, arrived at Grangemouth carrying 27,500 cubic meters of U.S. ethane.
Over the past decade, more than 400 ethane shipments have been delivered to Grangemouth, supporting continued manufacturing and reducing the company's reliance on natural gas amid high UK energy costs. INEOS has also recently commissioned a tenth furnace at its Grangemouth ethylene plant, further enhancing its production capabilities.
The company's fleet of ethane carriers is expected to reach 20 ships by the end of 2026, including 12 very large ethane carriers. This expansion will enable INEOS to maintain its position as a leading player in the petrochemical industry.