Total Petrochemicals USA (TPI), a Houston-based producer of transportation fuels, base chemicals, styrene, polystyrene, polyethylene and polypropylene and BASF, the world's leading chemical company, have announced a structural change in Sabina Petrochemicals' joint venture (JV).
Effective from August 1, 2011, Shell Chemical LP will walk out of the JV. From the specified date, the sole partners of the JV will be BASF and TPI with 60-40 ownership. Sabina Petrochemicals operates major C4 complexes in Port Arthur, Texas. BASF’s Senior Vice President of Petrochemicals, Heidi Alderman remarked that the change in ownership is a significant milestone for the company.
The C4 complex is located nearby Port Arthur refinery of TPI and BFLP’s steam cracker and it commenced operation in 2004. The complex includes an alkylation unit and the largest single train butadiene extraction unit. Alkylate is utilized as a fuel additive for application in high octane gasoline blending and butadiene is utilized to produce plastics and rubber.
Sabina Petrochemicals’ new structure reinforces the relationship between BASF and TPI. It also enables strengthening of synergies between the C-4 Sabina operation, the BASF FINA Petrochemicals Limited Partnership (BFLP) and the Total Port Arthur Refinery. TPI and BASF have planned to continue their investment in the Port Arthur site to enhance production capacity.
Source: http://www.basf.com/