Borouge, Borealis' joint venture with ADNOC, is expanding its existing Borstar capacity and studying further expansion to form a world scale petrochemical complex at Ruwais, Abu Dhabi in the UAE. Building on the successful start up and first two years of operation, increasing market demand for enhanced
polyolefins and more feedstock becoming available, the next steps are underway to expand the Borouge petrochemical complex.
Borouge will invest USD 40 million to debottleneck the existing Borstar enhanced
polyethylene (PE) capacity from 450,000 to 580,000 tonnes per annum. The project, which includes expansion of material handling facilities, is to be completed by Q2 2005. In addition, Borouge will assume full off take of the existing 600,000 tonnes per annum ethylene cracker.
To further develop Borouge, its owners, ADNOC and
Borealis, earlier this year signed a Memorandum of Understanding and are proceeding with a feasibility study for a new world scale cracker and downstream polyolefin plants. The expansion is based on two ADNOC natural
gas developments in Abu Dhabi, equivalent to approximately 1.4 million tonnes ethylene. Conclusions are likely to be made during 2004 with expected start-up of the new plants in 2008.