Braskem to use ethane gas at Bahia petrochemical complex

Braskem will invest approximately R$380 million to allow the use of ethane gas as a raw material in its operations. The investment will be directed to the adaptation of logistics infrastructure in the Port of Aratu terminal in the interconnection duct and technological adaptation of its basic petrochemicals unit in the Camaçari Petrochemical Complex (Bahia).

To supply the plant, Braskem signed a long term agreement with the US company Enterprise Products, which will provide, in the second half of 2017, the ethane gas from shale gas (shale gas), the raw material used for the production of petrochemicals.

Braskem's investment decision is aligned with the strategy of seeking flexibility in petrochemical production with alternative sources of raw material, improving the competitiveness of the company. The Bahia industrial plant, which now depends entirely on the supply of naphtha, will be able to use up to 15% of ethane from the investments to be made. Currently, naphtha represents 85% of the raw material used in Braskem's crackers in Brazil, and gas 15%. With the supply of ethane to the unit in Camaçari Petrochemical Complex, the gas will increase its share to 20% of the raw material used by Braskem in the country.

"The investment is focused on providing greater competitiveness and flexibility in the use of raw materials," said Marcelo Cerqueira, Vice President of Basic Petrochemicals Unit Braskem. "This diversification with the use of gas as a raw material – now abundant in the North American market – is a global trend of petrochemical This movement seeks to strengthen the competitiveness of the chemical chain and Brazilian petrochemicals as well as domestic and international operations of Braskem in the industry."

Adapted from press release by Rosalie Starling

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/petrochemicals/31032016/braskem-to-invest-in-ethane-gas-at-bahia-complex-2906/