Borealis Group AG (Vienna, Austria) has announced an important milestone in the construction of its world-scale propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant in Kallo, Belgium: the propylene splitter — one of the largest equipment units ever delivered to the port of Antwerp in one piece by ship — was successfully transported from the quay to the Borealis site in Kallo. Borealis’ new PDH plant represents Borealis’ ost significant investment in Europe.
The propylene splitter is one of the largest appliances ever delivered to the port of Antwerp in one piece by ship. (Source: Borealis)
The propylene splitter is a distillation column, which will split propane from propylene, as produced by the new PDH plant. With a length of 105 meters, a width of 10 meters and a weight of 1,600 tons, the splitter is one of the largest equipment ever delivered in one piece to the Port of Antwerp.
The plant will have a targeted annual production capacity of 750,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr), making it one of the largest and most efficient facilities in the world. Production is expected to start by the end of 2022.
Borealis sources basic feedstock, such as propane, naphtha, butane and ethane from the oil and gas industry and converts these into ethylene, propylene and other high value hydrocarbons. Recently, Borealis has also started sourcing renewable propane as feedstock to develop and produce renewable propylene and polypropylene.