July 4, 2005 – Braskem S.A. has selected Basell’s Spheripol Process for a new 300 KT per year polypropylene plant to be operated by a joint venture between Braskem and Petrobras Química S.A. at Paulínia, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Start-up is planned for 2007.

Braskem already operates 550 KT per year of PP capacity based on the Spheripol technology at its industrial complex in Triunfo, Brazil.

“The Spheripol process has proven to be the preferred technology for new PP plants,” said Just Jansz, president of Basell’s Technology Business. “The process has enjoyed this success because it fulfills important needs for producers: low capital and operating costs, a record of high plant operability, broad product capability, easy and rapid grade changes, and demonstrated commercial success. Continuous improvements have helped maintain its leading position.”

More than 90 Spheripol process plants with a combined capacity of more than 17 million tonnes per year have been licensed worldwide, including five plants in Brazil. The latest-generation Spheripol technology is fully compatible with both 4th and 5th generation catalyst families, including Basell’s Avant ZN diethers and succinate catalysts.

Basell’s complete portfolio of licensed technologies includes:

• Spheripol – polypropylene technology for the production of homopolymer, random and heterophasic copolymers.
• Spherizone – next generation polypropylene technology based on new multi-zone reactor technology.
• Spherilene – swing gas phase process for the production of LLDPE and HDPE.
• Hostalen - low-pressure slurry process for the production of bimodal HDPE.
• Lupotech G – fluidised bed gas phase process for the production of HDPE and MDPE.
• Lupotech T – high pressure tubular reactor process for the production of LDPE and EVA copolymers.

Basell also produces and commercialises advanced catalyst systems which are sold under the Avant trade name.

Basell is the world's largest producer of polypropylene and advanced polyolefin products, a leading supplier of polyethylene and catalysts, and a global leader in the development and licensing of polypropylene and polyethylene processes. Basell, together with its joint ventures, has manufacturing facilities around the world and sells products in more than 120 countries. Additional information about Basell is available at www.basell.com.

For more information contact Chantal Sohm, Basell Corporate Communications, at +33 1 55 51 21 19, +33 6 72 68 30 93 or Chantal.sohm@basell.com