2 July 2018
ABOUT AKZONOBEL SPECIALTY CHEMICALS
DETAILS
AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals will upgrade
its Rotterdam chlor-alkali plant
to strengthen development of the local industrial cluster.
The company is preparing to invest
in a second, independent production line
for chlorine and caustic soda
and will also implement a series of other upgrades,
starting with the implementation of
new ‘e-flex’ technology,
which automatically adjusts production
in line with electricity supplies.
The ‘e-flex’ technology,
implemented this month,
uses data analytics
to automatically adjust chlorine production levels
in line with changes in electricity supplies
and thus optimize costs.
Using flexibility
– both in chemical production and electricity generation –
will also help energy providers to balance large swings
in supply from renewable sources such as wind power.
The new production line, which is due for completion by 2021,
will ensure a continuous supply of chlorine,
including when one line is undergoing maintenance.
It also enables the company to expand production capacity
in the future to accommodate further demand growth.
The Rotterdam plant is at the heart of an important industrial cluster
for several essential chlorine derivatives
including PVC, epoxy resins and polyurethane.
The Rotterdam site has
the biggest single-line electrolysis unit in Europe,
with a production capacity of over 630,000 tons per year of chlorine,
as well as caustic soda and hydrogen.
The company is currently preparing the permitting documentation
for the new facilities and construction is expected to start in 2019.
Knut Schwalenberg,
Executive Committee Member responsible for Industrial Chemicals
“Chlorine and caustic soda are essential raw materials
for products ranging from pharmaceuticals
to lightweight products such as epoxy resins used for wind turbines,”
“To safeguard a continuous supply in the future
and to further improve safety and sustainability,
we plan to turn our site in Rotterdam i
nto the most advanced chlorine plant in the world.”
Werner Fuhrmann,
CEO of AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals
“The upgrades at our Rotterdam site
will safeguard our position
as a trusted partner for our customers,
who rely on us to support the growth of their business.
Taking advantage of digital technologies
such as ‘e-flex’ also shows
that digitalization, business growth and
a sustainable future can go hand in hand.”
Media Relations
WWW.CHEMWINFO.COM BY KHUN PHICHAI
