Baku, Azerbaijan, April 22. TotalEnergies has
announced plans to reconfigure its petrochemicals operations at its
Antwerp platform to strengthen the site’s competitiveness amid
changing market conditions, Trend reports.
The site, operational for over 75 years, remains a key location
for the company in Europe, based on an integrated refining and
petrochemicals model.
As part of its decarbonization strategy, TotalEnergies will use
130 MW from a 200 MW Air Liquide electrolyzer project to produce
15,000 tons of green hydrogen annually. The electricity will come
from its OranjeWind offshore wind project. The initiative is
expected to cut CO₂ emissions by up to 150,000 tons per year and
contribute to EU renewable transport targets.
The Antwerp site will also start producing 50,000 tons of
sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) annually via coprocessing from
2025. In addition, a 25 MW / 75 MWh battery system, commissioned
last year, supports industrial decarbonization and helps stabilize
electricity grids.
In response to expected ethylene overcapacity in Europe,
TotalEnergies plans to shut down its oldest steam cracker in
Antwerp by the end of 2027. The closure follows the decision of a
key third-party ethylene customer not to renew its contract.
The company will concentrate operations on a newer steam
cracker, which is fully integrated into TotalEnergies’ downstream
units in Antwerp and Feluy. The reconfiguration will be carried out
without layoffs. Solutions such as retirement or reassignment
within the site will be offered to the 253 employees affected. An
employee consultation process is set to begin in late April.