BASF green lights €10bn petrochemical project in China

Ludwigshafen, Germany – BASF SE has given final approval for the construction of the planned integrated site in Zhanjiang in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, the chemicals maker announced 19 July.

BASF will invest up to €10 billion by 2030 to build the new site, including a steam cracker and several downstream plants for the production of petrochemicals and intermediates.

In 2020, BASF started construction of the first plants at its integrated site in Zhanjiang, China, which will be the group's third-largest worldwide after Ludwigshafen, Germany, and Antwerp, Belgium.

The site will be built in several phases and is expected to be fully operational by 2030, according to the group’s statement.

The first plant for the production of engineering plastics is currently starting up and a plant for the production of thermoplastic polyurethanes will come on stream in 2023, BASF also reported.