BASF TOTAL Petrochemicals announces start-up of 10th furnace at Port Arthur steam cracker

HOUSTON, March 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The BASF TOTAL Petrochemicals LCC (BTP) joint venture (60 percent BASF, 40 percent Total) today announced the startup of a 10th 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 one million metric tons.

"The safe and successful startup of the 10th furnace, along with other optimization measures taken at the steam cracker facility, enhances the joint venture's competitive position within the petrochemicals industry," said Heidi Alderman, Senior Vice President for Petrochemicals at BASF Corporation. "This investment is another example of BASF TOTAL Petrochemicals' strong commitment to its Port Arthur operations."

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% of its ethylene based on cost advantaged feedstocks," said Philippe Doligez, Senior Vice President for Total Refining & Petrochemicals Americas. "Along with increased capacity, the new furnace reinforces the availability of the plant."

About 250 construction jobs were created during the 10th furnace project and more than 250 during the ethane feed project.

BASF TOTAL Petrochemicals, LLC

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 percent ownership, and Total Petrochemicals &Refining USA, 40 percent ownership. For more information about BASF Corporation and Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA, Inc. visit www.basf.us or www.totalpetrochemicalsusa.com.

BASF - The Chemical Company

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has nearly 17,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $19.3 billion in 2013. For more information about BASF's North American operations, visit www.basf.us.

BASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of about 74 billion Euros in 2013 and over 112,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA, Incorporated

Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA, Inc. (TPRI) is part of the Refining-Petrochemicals Americas Division of Total S.A., one of the largest integrated international oil and gas companies with operations in more than 130 countries worldwide. TPRI is headquartered in Houston and is a major producer of polypropylene, polystyrene, styrene, base chemicals and polyethylene in the United States. Its refinery produces transportation fuels and other petroleum-based products for the global market. The company employs more than 1,600 who work in support of manufacturing and research/development activities in Texas and Louisiana. Visit us online at www.totalpetrochemicalsrefiningusa.com.

SOURCE BASF Corporation