BASF advances capacity expansion at Antwerp complex

BASF SE is moving forward with its previously announced plan to expand production capacity of ethylene oxide (EO) and EO derivatives at subsidiary BASF Antwerpen NV’s Verbund manufacturing site in Antwerp, Belgium (OGJ Online, July 24, 2018).

At a total investment amounting to more than €500 million, the expansion will add a second large EO plant at the site to increase production capacity by about 400,000 tonnes/year, as well as involve additional investments in various installations for EO derivatives, including nonionic surfactants, glycol ethers for automotive applications, and other alkoxylates, BASF said.

Phased start-up of the expansion is scheduled for 2022, according to the operator.

The expansions come as part of BASF’s plan to further strengthen its backward integration into EO to support continued growth of its customers in downstream markets.

In Europe, BASF—the largest producer of EO derivatives in the region—operates EO plants with a combined capacity of 845,000 tonnes/year in Antwerp and Ludwigshafen in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.