21-07-2022

Baystar® announces start up of new ethane cracker in Port Arthur

Bayport Polymers LLC, a 50/50 joint venture between TotalEnergies and Borealis, today announces the start-up of a new ethane cracker with an annual production capacity of one million tons of ethylene.

This almost $2 billion project built on the site of the TotalEnergies refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, represents 14 million hours worked with more than 2,500 workers at peak construction.

The ethylene produced by the cracker will be used as feedstock to supply Baystar’s existing polyethylene (PE) units, as well as a new Borstar® technology polyethylene unit currently under construction in the Bayport area.

“After significant investments in U.S. LNG and renewable electricity in 2022, the start-up of this new cracker is another milestone strengthening TotalEnergies’ presence in the United States. This investment is in perfect alignment with our strategy to develop petrochemicals at our integrated platforms like Port Arthur by taking advantage of the abundance of ethane in the U.S.,” said Bernard Pinatel, President, Refining & Chemicals, TotalEnergies.

“I am excited to see the start-up of this new ethane cracker, an important milestone for us as we are expanding our global footprint through Baystar. We are pleased to bring Borealis’ proprietary Borstar®technology to North America for the first time, allowing Baystar to produce enhanced polyethylene products for the most demanding applications,” said Borealis CEO, Thomas Gangl.

“This is an important milestone for Baystar as we become a fully integrated polyethylene company. Our focus is on growing the polymers market in North America and leveraging the power of partnership with TotalEnergies and Borealis,” said Diane Chamberlain, Baystar President

The Baystar JV is the translation of the growth ambitions of TotalEnergies and Borealis in the United States. It includes:
* The Baystar site in the Bayport area (Pasadena, Texas) with a 400,000 ton-per-year PEcapacity.
* The one million ton-per-year ethane cracker at the TotalEnergies Port Arthur Refinery,which now has successfully started operations.
* The under-construction 625,000 metric ton-per-year PE unit in Pasadena, using the Borealis proprietary Borstar® technology to deliver a broad range of products to help meet the growing global demand for plastic products. The Borstar® process offers simultaneous improvements in production flexibility and environmental performance such as high energy efficiency. Furthermore, Borstar® products excel in sustainability, for example through light-weighting and by enabling incorporation of more than 50% post-consumer recycled materials in some end products.