First major project on BASF site in Asia completed

BASF Petronas Chemicals Sdn Bhd, a 60/40 joint venture between BASF Aktiengesellschaft of Germany and the Malaysian state-owned company Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS), announced that their acrylic monomers complex on the integrated chemical site in Kuantan, Malaysia, is fully operational.

The acrylics acid complex is the first major project to be completed at the world-scale integrated chemical site in Kuantan. Total capital expenditures for the projects at the site are about U.S.$ 900 million.

"The completion of the acrylic monomers complex marks a milestone for BASF PETRONAS Chemicals integrated chemical site. It signifies the first step towards realizing our goal of achieving full integration of production processes, known in German as 'Verbund' which is a special strength of BASF," said Dr Bernhard Nick, Managing Director of BASF PETRONAS Chemicals.

The acrylics complex (160,000 metric tons of acrylic acid per year) comprises four plants: crude acrylic acid, butylacrylate, 2-ethylhexylacrylate and glacial acrylic acid.

The acrylic acid manufacturing complex is the first in a number of large-scale projects at the site. Plants for the manufacture of oxo alcohols, syngas, phthalic anhydride and plasticizers as well as butanediol and formic acid are either in the construction or final planning stages. The oxo and syngas complex is targeted to start-up in early 2001. Butanediol complex and formic acid plant are scheduled to be completed in 2002.

Edited by David Nakamura
Managing Editor, Hydrocarbon Online