Nanjing, China - China's central government approved BASF and Sinopec's plans for a $1400-million expansion of their joint venture, BASF-YPC Co. Ltd (BYC), in Nanjing, China on 1 July 2009.
The two groups will invest in technologies to produce downstream speciality chemicals for the Chinese market, serving many industries, including construction, electronics, pharmaceutical, automotive and chemical manufacturing, said a 7 July joint statement from the partners.
The plan includes expansion of the existing steam cracker, construction of ten new chemical plants, and the expansion of three existing plants.
"The expansion of BYC underscores our strong belief in the growth opportunities of the Chinese market," said Dr Martin Brudermüller, BASF SE board member responsible for Asia Pacific. It demonstrates BASF's long-term commitment to China, expands its competitive advantage and allows BASF to help customers in China "make their industries, businesses and homes more energy efficient," he added.
"The expansion conforms with China's revitalisation plan for the petrochemical industry ... broadens the portfolio of downstream products in Nanjing, meets the increasing demands in the East China region, and promotes the upgrading of China's petrochemical industry," said Wang Tianpu, president of Sinopec, in the joint statement.
Details of the project include:
• Expansion of the steam cracker to a total of 740 kilotonnes per annum of ethylene;
• Development of an integrated ethylene oxide (EO) derivatives value chain by expanding the existing EO plant and building a new EO purification unit, as well as new EO derivatives plants. These include a butyl glycol ether plant, a non-ionic surfactants plant, and an amines complex for the production of ethanolamines, ethyleneamines and dimethylethanolamine, and a DMA3 plant;
• Construction of a new superabsorbent polymer (SAP) plant;
* Expansion of the existing propionic acid, aldehyde and oxo-C4 plant;
* Development of an integrated C4 complex, including a butadiene extraction plant, a 2-propylheptanol plant, an isobutene extraction plant, and a plant for polyisobutene.
"
