PP Expansions: TotalEnergies ups production of PP in Belgium; PT Polytama Propindo to build PP plant in Indonesia

TotalEnergies Polymer’s plant in Feluy, Belgium, has started up new production of PP with the commissioning of a new reactor in its unit.

Through this investment, TotalEnergies says it strengthens its leading position on the high value-added polymers market. The company is therefore increasing its production of grades that meet the highest quality standards and technical requirements of specialty markets, including medical and automotive.

Thanks to their many properties, such as lightweight, impermeability or resistance, plastics have become an integral part of our daily lives. In the automotive sector for example, the use of polymers as replacement for metal contributes to reducing the overall weight of vehicles, thereby allowing reductions in CO2 emissions by as much as 10%. In the medical sector, polymers also play a crucial role in the supply of medicines, particularly by ensuring their protection and packaging.

Valérie Goff, Senior Vice President, Polymers at TotalEnergies, stated: "The commissioning of this new reactor in Feluy will enable us to meet the growing demand from our customers, including the automotive and medical specialty markets, for ever more efficient polymers that contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of end-use applications.”

In other news, chemical firm LyondellBasell, the world’s largest licensor of polyolefin technologies, says that PT Polytama Propindo will use the LyondellBasell Spheripol technology for expanding its existing facility.

The process technology will be used for an additional 300 kilotonnes/year plant to be built in Balongan, West Java, Indonesia, that is expected to be completed in 2024.

“PT Polytama Propindo is a long time customer of LyondellBasell and we are excited to be part of their growth aspirations with this new license for Spheripol technology,” said Jim Seward, Senior Vice President, R&D, Technology and Sustainability at LyondellBasell. Seward added, “Our Spheripol technology has been operating reliably at the Balongan site since the mid-90s, producing high value polypropylene resins. We therefore believe that the selection of this new Spheripol technology line was a natural choice for PT Polytama Propindo.”

Didik Susilo, President Director at PT Polytama Propindo stated: “The teams showed tremendous efforts to develop a site and specific solution allowing us to produce a wide range of polypropylene products based on LyondellBasell’s Spheripol technology. Opting again for a license from the market leader allows us to stay focused on implementing the project in a safe and timely manner.”

Spheripol technology has more than 30 million tonnes of licensed capacity. The latest fifth generation Spheripol technology includes process improvements that further maximise operational efficiency, adds LyondellBasell. The plant will commence operations using Avant ZN catalyst.

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