Sabic will start a turnaround at its Chemelot site at the end of this week. The Olefins 3 naphtha cracker and five other installations of the cracker complex will be taken out of operation during this. Sabic announces that it will not restart the cracker thereafter.
This maintenance project involves an investment of several million euros. Naphtha cracker Olefins 4 will continue to operate normally. Sabic indicates that one of the key components of its strategy for the Geleen site is the development of the Sabic Plastic Energy Advanced Recycling plant. This plant where it plans to chemically recycle plastics is nearing completion.
The changes at the site mark an important step in increasing sustainability and adapting to changing market conditions, said John Bruijooge, General Manager at Sabic in Geleen.
Two years ago, there was already talk of a possible closure of one of Sabic’s two squatters at Chemelot. The company stated then that it was engaged in a strategic reorientation in which closing a cracker was a possible option. The Olefins-3 cracker is more than 50 years old.
