The Abu Dhabi plant will add 130,000tpa of capacity and is considering further expansion

The Abu Dhabi plant will add 130,000tpa of capacity and is considering further expansion

The Borouge polyethylene plant in Abu Dhabi is to be expanded by 130,000tpa. The joint venture between Borealis and the state’s national oil company is considering further expansion. The debottlenecking programme will cost $40m (E33m) and will raise capacity of the Borstar technology unit from 450,000tpa to 580,000tpa. It is due for completion in the second quarter of 2005. Borouge will also assume full offtake from the 600,000tpa cracker at the site.

Borouge’s owners are considering future opportunities from two natural gas developments in Abu Dhabi, equivalent to 1.4 million tonnes a year of ethylene. A decision on a new cracker and downstream polyolefin plants will be made next year with start-up anticipated for 2008.

Chief executive Harri Bucht said: “Borouge has performed beyond expectations to date with the polyethylene plants already exceeding their nameplate capacity. By expanding our olefins and polyolefins production, we will achieve greater cost efficiency.”