BASF launches syngas plant construction in Zhanjiang, China

BASF has initiated the construction of its syngas plant at the Verbund site located in Zhanjiang, China. This state-of-the-art facility, which is set to be operational by 2025, will be fully integrated into the Verbund site. The plant will employ distinctive process concepts that aim to lower carbon emissions compared to traditional syngas plants. This move aligns with BASF’s sustainability objectives.

The facility is designed to produce syngas and hydrogen, primarily for internal use within BASF’s production Verbund. The production methodologies in the syngas plant will predominantly use CO2 off-gas, a by-product from the ethylene oxide process, and surplus fuel gas from steam cracker operations to produce syngas. Bir Darbar Mehta, senior vice president of Petrochemicals Asia Pacific at BASF, highlighted that the technical concept of this syngas plant is unparalleled in China. He emphasised BASF’s dedication to achieving climate neutrality by 2050 and stated that these innovative processes would significantly reduce the Zhanjiang Verbund site’s direct CO2 emissions.

Furthermore, the syngas plant has the capability to utilise additional feedstocks, ensuring consistent production. By 2025, the site-wide grid is anticipated to be powered entirely by renewable energy.

The Zhanjiang Verbund site represents BASF’s most significant investment, with an expected expenditure of up to EUR10 billion (USD10.75 billion) upon its completion. This site will be BASF’s third-largest Verbund site globally, following those in Ludwigshafen, Germany, and Antwerp, Belgium.

BASF’s Petrochemicals division, which generated sales of about EUR10.6 billion (USD11.39 billion) in 2022, serves as the foundation for BASF’s petrochemical-based value chains worldwide. The division offers a diverse range of products, including cracker products, industrial gases, acrylics, and more.

BASF, a global chemical company based in Ludwigshafen, Germany, is committed to creating chemistry for a sustainable future. With more than 111,000 employees, BASF focuses on combining economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. In 2022, BASF reported sales of EUR87.3 billion (USD93.8 billion).