Shell invests in feedstock at Moerdijk

Moerdijk/The Netherlands – Shell Nederland Chemie has announced that it would make a significant investment to strengthen the integration of the Pernis-Moerdijk refinery and chemicals complex in the Netherlands. The investment forms part of an ongoing programme to secure the long-term potential and competitiveness of Shell chemical assets in Western Europe and will concentrate on supplying hydrowax from the Pernis refinery, and other Shell chemical refineries in Europe, to Moerdijk to create an advantaged feedstock position. The project will focus on the modification of a number of furnaces at Moerdijk to crack hydrowax and modifications to the associated logistics infrastructure at Pernis and Moerdijk. Hydrowax, a by-product from refining hydrocrackers, is available from the Pernis refinery and can offer economic advantages compared to conventional ethylene feedstocks. The project is expected to be complete and onstream during the first quarter of 2009.