June 6, 2007 – Basell has announced the commercialisation of its latest generation Avant ZN catalysts in China, addressing customer requests from the country’s expanding polyolefins industry. First customer to be served will be CSPC, a leading Chinese polyolefin producer.
“We are pleased to continue and expand the cooperation with the company on its Avant ZN catalysts, which enable the production of a wide range of homopolymers and copolymers,” said Mr. Li Cai, Manager for LDPE, HDPE and PP at CSPC. “We aim to provide polyolefin products that set the market standard in terms of product quality, innovation and consistency, and we believe that state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies and catalyst systems such as Avant allow us to meet these objectives.”
Together with the latest 4th generation catalysts, Basell is also marketing a range of unique 5th generation catalysts in Asia that can significantly expand polypropylene properties beyond existing standard grades.
According to Jim Seward, vice president of Basell’s Catalyst Business, “In every region of the world, polypropylene producers are seeking to improve the performance of their products while maintaining consistent quality and competitive economics. In the fast growing Chinese market, we are able to meet customers’ increasing demands for improved impact copolymers through the superior morphology and porosity of Avant catalysts, which produce resins with up to 40 per cent rubber content.”
Avant ZN is Basell’s trademark for the most widely used catalysts in the polypropylene industry. The Avant ZN family of catalysts can be used for the production of polypropylene homopolymers, random and heterophasic copolymers and can be used in gas-phase, slurry and bulk technology. Avant catalysts’ high activity and superior morphology allow good operational stability, consistent production and a wide range of product capabilities.
Basell produces and commercialises a complete range of polyolefin catalyst systems which are sold under the Avant trade name:
. Avant ZN – Ziegler-Natta catalysts for polypropylene
. Avant Z – Ziegler catalysts for polyethylene
. Avant C – Chromium catalysts for polyethylene
. Avant M – Metallocene catalysts for polypropylene
About CSPC
CNOOC and Shell Petrochemicals Company Limited (CSPC) is set to achieve a milestone in petrochemicals history in China, operating a USD 4.2 billion petrochemicals complex in Daya Bay, Huizhou Municipality, Guangdong Province. The complex is located at Daya Bay, about 80 kilometres north-east of Hong Kong. Additional information is available on the Internet at www.cnoocshell.com
The joint venture partners are Shell Nanhai BV, a member of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies, with a 50 per cent stake, and CNOOC Petrochemicals Investment Limited (CPIL), also 50 per cent. CPIL is 90% owned by China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) and the remaining 10% is owned by Guangdong Guangye Investment Group Co. Ltd., an investment company authorized by the People's Government of Guangdong Province. CSPC owns and operates the petrochemicals complex and will market the resulting product, primarily into the domestic market.
About Basell
Basell is the global leader in polyolefins technology, production and marketing. It is the largest producer of polypropylene and advanced polyolefin products; a leading supplier of polyethylene and catalysts, and the industry leader in licensing polypropylene and polyethylene processes, including providing technical services for its proprietary technologies. Basell, together with its joint ventures, has manufacturing facilities in 19 countries and sells products in more than 120 countries. Additional information about Basell is available at www.basell.com.
For more information contact Waldemar Oldenburger, Basell Corporate Communications at +49 69 305 854 59 or waldemar.oldenburger@basell.com or please visit us on www.basell.com/content/newsroom
