BASF plant in Caojing ready for restart

Shanghai/PR China – The BASF plant for the manufacture of tetrahydrofuran (THF) at the Caojing site near Shanghai is ready to go back on stream. The plant is now equipped with a new production unit enabling the alternative use of butane diol (BDO) as a raw material for THF production in addition to butane. With the move, the company sustainably improves the reliability of local industrial raw material supply for the neighboring PolyTHF plant, which has been in operation since the first quarter of 2005. Additionally, the production of maleic anhydride (MAN) as a commercial product alongside THF will be possible, presumably with effect from early 2010. Dr. Walter Gramlich, president, head of the Operating Division Intermediates of the BASF-Group, emphasizes: “We are presently exploring potentials for further expansion of our PolyTHF capacity in Asia Pacific.”