KUANTAN, MALAYSIA/LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY: BASF SE and Petronas Chemicals Group Berhad (PCG) said they will build a new world-scale production plant for highly reactive polyisobutene (HR-PIB) at the site of their existing joint venture, BASF Petronas Chemicals Sdn Bhd, in Kuantan, Malaysia.
The plant, which will be the first of its kind in South East Asia, with a total annual capacity of 50,000 metric tonne, is expected to start production in the fourth quarter of 2017. HR-PIB is an important intermediate product for the manufacturing of high performance fuel and lubricant additives, including additives for sludge prevention.
In addition to the proposed plant, BASF Petronas Chemicals is also building two plants at its Kuantan site namely an integrated aroma ingredients complex for the manufacturing of citronellol, L-menthol as well as citral and its precursors which are widely used in the flavour and fragrance industry; and a 2-ethylhexanoic acid (2-EHA) production plant for the manufacturing of 2-EHA compound for the production of synthetic lubricants as well as oil additives. It is also used for functional fluids like automotive coolants, metal salts for paint dryers, plasticizers, stabilizers, catalysts and other applications in various industries.
“Leveraging excellence in technology will be an important factor in accelerating future profitable growth globally and especially in Asia,” said Dr Christian Fischer, president, performance chemicals division, BASF.
According to Fischer, the joint investment with BASF’s partner PCG at the Kuantan Verbund site will further increase security of supply for HR-PIB, especially for the Asian market. The new plant will further strengthen the global footprint of BASF as the leading supplier of this product.
“The investment marks another significant milestone in the development of the Kuantan site as a leading specialty chemicals hub in the Asia Pacific region, in line with PCG’s strategy to diversify into specialty chemicals and solutions,” said Datuk Sazali Hamzah, president and CEO, Petronas Chemicals Group Berhad. “It also strengthens the presence of highly advanced and forward oriented technologies and expertise in Malaysia and the region.”
BASF offers the broadest range of polyisobutenes in the market with different molecular weights which are marketed by the global business unit fuel and lubricant solutions under the brand names of oppanol and glissopal.
© Worldofchemicals News