The joint venture BASF TOTAL Petrochemicals LLC (Port Arthur, Texas; www.basf.us and www.totalpetrochemicals) today announced the startup of a tenth furnace at its steam cracker facility in Port Arthur, Texas. The additional furnace improves feedstock flexibility, enhances plant reliability and increases annual production capacity of ethylene to more than 1 million metric tons.
Other optimization measures include a revamp of the steam cracker to process ethane which was achieved last year.
“These recent investments in the steam cracker allow the plant to produce more than 85 percent of its ethylene based on cost advantaged feedstocks,” said Yves Houilliez, Vice President at Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA. “Along with increased capacity, the new furnace reinforces the availability of the plant.”
About 250 construction jobs were created during the tenth furnace project and more than 250 during the ethane feed project.
BASF TOTAL Petrochemicals LLC is located in Port Arthur, Texas and manufactures a range of chemicals used in hundreds of consumer products. BASF TOTAL Petrochemicals is a joint venture partnership between BASF Corporation, 60% ownership, and Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA, 40% ownership.