As part of the revamp process, four existing furnaces were upgraded and brought up to modern standards for process safety, reliability and thermal efficiency. Three more furnaces, Borealis said, will increase their capacity, while two obsolete furnaces will be decommissioned and completely shut down at the end of this year.

Borealis stressed that the project was characterized by excellent safety performance throughout construction and start-up phases.

“Our very highest priority in the Stenungsund furnace revamp was to achieve a stellar safety record while carrying out a project of this huge size and scope, and we have delivered on this ambition,” commented Wolfram Krenn, Executive Vice President Operations and Base Chemicals at Borealis. “Our upgraded facility is moving us closer to realizing our broader Energy & Climate goals: thanks to the overhaul, the yearly CO₂ emission reductions add up to approximately 24,000 tons which is the equivalent to the amount emitted on average by 6,000 European households each year.”

The Austrian plastics manufacturer announced a EUR 60 million investment in its Stenungsund production site in 2015. The program was originally scheduled for completion by 2020, but was delayed due in part to the corona pandemic.