Ferrara, Italy, October 10, 2002 – The launch of a trademark – Spherizone -- for Basell’s new breakthrough polypropylene manufacturing technology was announced today at a press conference at the company’s Giulio Natta Research Centre.

"With its multi-zone circulating reactor, the Spherizone process is a significant step forward in polymerization technology that generates properties beyond those produced in any other PP manufacturing process," said Anton de Vries, President of Basell Research & Development.

First envisioned in its current layout in 1998, the new technology has moved forward to commercial production in a relatively short period of time. Following testing in Basell’s Ferrara pilot plant, the new process has now been commercialised in a 160 KT unit at Brindisi, Italy that came on-stream in August.

"It has been 20 years since Basell’s Spheripol technology began to revolutionise the way polypropylene was produced," said de Vries. "There has been a lot of improvement but the basic manufacturing technology has remained the same, a continuous circulating loop encompassing a single polymerisation zone. The multi-zone circulating reactor process changes all that by applying catalytic cracker technology."

The new technology facilitates the improvement of products for traditional market applications such as BOPP film, packaging in general, fibres, consumer goods and the automotive industry as well as for new applications replacing other materials.

"And to think we are really only just getting started with Spherizone," said de Vries

Volker Trautz, Basell’s President and Chief Executive Officer, told the gathered journalists, "A constant for Basell is our strong innovation pipeline. In addition to the new Spherizone technology there are other significant platforms that will contribute to future growth."

Three technology platforms highlighted by Trautz from Basell’s extensive technology portfolio were:

• The advance technology Catalloy process using new catalyst systems to achieve product properties that range from very soft and flexible to tough and rigid.
• The Advanced Cascade Process -- the latest generation of the PE Hostalen Slurry technology.
• Metocene resins – a Basell family of advanced, tailored resins produced with metallocene single-site catalysts that offer excellent transparency and stiffness.

In his remarks, Basell Chief Financial Officer Wolfgang Mende said, "Despite the difficulties we have faced in the market place and in addressing challenges such as severe over-capacity and depressed margins, the bottom line for Basell is this: This merger is proven successful. The merger has delivered – and is continuing to deliver."

Basell develops, produces and markets polypropylene, polyethylene, advanced polyolefin materials and polyolefin catalysts, and also develops and licenses polyolefin processes. Basell's corporate centre is located in Hoofddorp, The Netherlands; the company has regional offices in Wilmington, Delaware. USA; Brussels, Belgium; Mainz, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Hong Kong, as well as manufacturing facilities and sales offices in the major markets around the globe. Basell’s Internet address is www.basell.com.

Spherizone, Spheripol, Catalloy, Hostalen and Metocene are trademarks owned or used by Basell. Hostalen is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.