Ineos plans expansion of European facilities

Chemicals giant Ineos has announced plans to increase the capacity of the cracker facility used to break down gases at its Grangemouth site as part of a major European expansion programme.

The company said it was also looking at construct‑ ing a huge facility to pro‑ duce propylene, with potential sites including

Antwerp in Belgium under consideration.

The expansion of the Grangemouth cracker plant, along with one at Rafnes in Norway, will see capacity at each increase to over one million tonnes from around 600‑700m.

Jim Ratcliffe, chairman of Ineos, said the invest‑ ments represent the “first substantial investments in the European chemicals industry for many years”.

He said: “It has only been made possible because of INEOS’S massive $2 billion investment in our Dragon Ships programme which allows us to import ethane and liquefied petroleum gas from the US in huge quantities.” Ineos current‑ ly produces 4.5 million tonnes of ethylene and pro‑ pylene a year.