03.09.2013 • NewsBASFFrackingKurt Bock

BASF Pushes Harder on Shale Gas as Asian Investors Rethink

BASF is stepping up its pressure on Germany to soften its hesitant stance on shale gas exploitation. In presenting Q2 results in July, CEO Kurt Bock said he hoped the new government elected on Sept. 22 would take a bolder approach.

In a late August newspaper interview the German chemical giant's managing board member Margaret Suckale said the group has knowledge that due to high energy prices customers are turning their backs on the country and relocating planned investment to Asia or the U.S.

Even if hydraulic fracturing is controversial, it at least lowers the energy prices, Suckale said, while noting that gas price in the U.S. are only a quarter of those in Germany.

Potential petrochemical investors in Asia are also looking with envy to the U.S. shale gas boom. At least one has announced plans to withdraw from a mammoth project in Malaysia, saying that naphtha cracking has become comparatively uneconomical. Following conclusion of a feasibility study, Taiwan's Kuokuang Petrochemical Technology Company said it would not build a cracker in Pengerang, Johor province, planned as part of a refinery and downstream complex.

Also because of the perceived new feedstock economics, Malaysian state-owned energy and petrochemicals group Petronas may reconsider parts of its RAPID refinery project at Kohor. Reports say a decision is to be made by March 2014. Earlier this year, BASF stepped back from plans for a 60:40 specialty chemicals joint venture within the Petronas RAPID project, saying the two sides had been unable to agree on terms and conditions.

 

Virtual Event

Digitalization in the Chemical Industry
CHEManager Spotlight

Digitalization in the Chemical Industry

Save the Date: October 22, 2025
The event will be promoted to a combined audience of over 100,000 professionals across Europe through the CHEManager and CITplus networks.

Whitepaper

Excellence in Pharmaceutical Distribution and The Critical Role of Good Distribution Practice (GDP)
Setting the Standard

Excellence in Pharmaceutical Distribution and The Critical Role of Good Distribution Practice (GDP)

Are you ready to elevate your pharmaceutical operations? Download our exclusive whitepaper and discover how compliance with Good Distribution Practice (GDP) is essential for the safety and integrity of pharmaceuticals.

most read

Photo
13.03.2025 • News

Roche and Zealand Pharma Collaborate on Weight Management Drug

Swiss pharma heavyweight Roche announced has entered into an exclusive collaboration and licensing agreement with Denmark’s Zealand Pharma. Under the terms of this agreement, the two companies will collaborate to co-develop and co-commercialize petrelintide, Zealand Pharma’s amylin analog as a standalone therapy as well as a fixed-dose combination with Roche’s lead incretin asset CT-388.

Photo
22.04.2025 • News

BASF Divests Two Joint Ventures in China

BASF has divested its shares in the joint venture companies, BASF Markor Chemical Manufacturing (Xinjiang) Co., Ltd. and Markor Meiou Chemical (Xinjiang) Co., Ltd. in Korla, China, to Verde Chemical Singapore Pte. Ltd.