Borealis invests EUR40 mn in cracker upgrade

Austrian polyolefins maker Borealis is investing EUR40 million to upgrade its steam cracker in Porvoo, Finland. The upgrade will enhance the cracker’s energy efficiency, yield higher production capacities for propylene and crude C4, and enable an overall higher production quality of propylene. It made this announcement at a pre-K2016 event recently.

In Porvoo, Finland, Borealis operates one of the most flexible, fully-integrated crackers in Europe. The investment in the cracker will further enhance its performance by boosting capacity and improving energy efficiency. The project is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2017. The production capacity of propylene and crude C4 will increase by 30 kilotonnes per annum and 10 kilotonnes per annum, respectively. The project will also upgrade the quality of all produced propylene to polymer grade, thereby increasing value as well as productivity in the adjacent polypropylene production plant.

“Investing in upgrades and capacity expansion at strategic Borealis production locations such as Porvoo enables us to improve the competitiveness of our strong, integrated polyolefins business in Europe,” explains Markku Korvenranta, Borealis Executive Vice President Base Chemicals. “Through continuous investments, Borealis is securing its position among the most innovative and reliable polyethylene and polypropylene suppliers in Europe.”

Flexible, integrated steam crackers and their associated production units form the backbone of the Borealis olefins and polyolefins portfolio in Europe. Borealis sources basic feedstocks such as naphtha, butane, propane and ethane from the oil and gas industry and converts these into ethylene, propylene and other high value hydrocarbons. It also produces propylene in a propane dehydrogenation plant in Kallo, Belgium.

Borealis, a leading provider of innovative solutions in the fields of polyolefins, base chemicals and fertilizers, announces a EUR 40 million investment to upgrade its steam cracker in Porvoo, Finland. The upgrade will enhance the cracker’s energy efficiency, yield higher production capacities for propylene and crude C4, and enable an overall higher production quality of propylene.

In Porvoo, Finland, Borealis operates one of the most flexible, fully-integrated crackers in Europe. The investment in the cracker will further enhance its performance by boosting capacity and improving energy efficiency. The project is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2017. The production capacity of propylene and crude C4 will increase by 30 kilotonnes per annum and 10 kilotonnes per annum, respectively. The project will also upgrade the quality of all produced propylene to polymer grade, thereby increasing value as well as productivity in the adjacent polypropylene production plant.

“Investing in upgrades and capacity expansion at strategic Borealis production locations such as Porvoo enables us to improve the competitiveness of our strong, integrated polyolefins business in Europe,” explains Markku Korvenranta, Borealis Executive Vice President Base Chemicals. “Through continuous investments, Borealis is securing its position among the most innovative and reliable polyethylene and polypropylene suppliers in Europe.”

Flexible, integrated steam crackers and their associated production units form the backbone of the Borealis olefins and polyolefins portfolio in Europe. Borealis sources basic feedstocks such as naphtha, butane, propane and ethane from the oil and gas industry and converts these into ethylene, propylene and other high value hydrocarbons. It also produces propylene in a propane dehydrogenation plant in Kallo, Belgium.