Polyolefins maker Borealis is expanding capacity for its crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) in Stenungsund, Sweden, it said recently in a statement released in conjunction with the 2014 Wire Düsseldorf exhibition in Germany.

Borealis first invested in a high pressure low density polyethylene (LDPE) plant in Stenungsund in 2010. Now, it will add on 20,000 tonnes/year of its Borlink extra high voltage (EHV), high voltage direct current (HVDC) and high voltage (HV) PE compounds produced in closed or controlled loop processes. The capacity increase is scheduled to come on stream in the course of 2015.

According to Gilles Rochas, Borealis Vice President for Energy & Infrastructure, "This most recent Stenungsund investment is another clear signal of our commitment to ensuring global supply of high quality compounds used for the most demanding applications in power cables and will bolster our standing as a reliable and innovative leader in the wire and cable industry.”

Meanwhile, the Austrian company’s joint venture with Abu Dhabi National Oil Co, Borouge is currently expanding its PE and PP manufacturing capacity in Ruwais, Abu Dhabi, from 2 million to 4.5 million tonnes/year. This development is said to be one of the largest and most integrated polyolefin expansions in the history of the petrochemical industry and is positioning Borouge among the top producers in the Middle East.

Borealis said, “The wire and cable industry will reap the concrete benefits of this growth with relevant grades produced at a 350,000 tonnes/year high pressure LDPE plant, a significant addition similar to Borealis’ LDPE plant in Sweden. This investment in LDPE production spearheads Borouge’s ability to manufacture innovative Borlink and Visico XLPE solutions for the global wire and cable market, assuring the same superior product performance of the Ruwais-produced wire and cable compounds.”

Roland Janssen, Borouge Vice President Marketing Centre Wire and Cable said, "The present Borouge development enables our customers in the Middle East and Asia in particular to benefit from the great product performance and high productivity levels delivered by our super clean XLPE compounds as well as the reactor-made Visico XLPE base resin. This will also allow our customers to be served regionally by our Ruwais-produced Borlink XLPE compounds.

He added that other integral aspects of the overall Borouge expansion include logistic hubs such as the new Ruwais Distribution Centre in Abu Dhabi and the establishment of innovation centres in both the UAE and China.