INEOS to revamp Lillo polyethylene plant

INEOS Group subsidiary INEOS Olefins & Polymers Europe is undertaking a project to diversify production of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) at its 45-hectacre polyolefins manufacturing site at Lillo, in the Port of Antwerp.

The proposed €30-million upgrading project will involve a conversion of Lillo’s existing HDPE plant to enable production of either monomodal or bimodal HDPE grades to help meet growing demand for products and applications that support the global energy transition to net-zero emissions, INEOS said on Oct. 18.

The Lillo plant’s varied slate of HDPE production specifically will provide customers bimodal HDPE polymers for manufacturing products that can be installed and operated safely for at least 50 years, as well as offer more efficient, lower-emission solutions for transporting utilities and goods throughout Europe, according to the operator.

In addition to drinking water, gas, sewage, and other geothermal and biogas applications, INEOS said Lillo’s bimodal HDPE polymers will enable other applications critical to a future sustainable energy economy, including:

• Pressure pipe grids for transporting hydrogen.
• Long-distance underground cable ducts networks for wind farms and transportation of other renewable-power forms.
• Electrification infrastructure.
• Carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture, transport, and storage (CCS) processes.

Further details regarding the Lillo upgrade have yet to be revealed.

According to INEOS’ latest reports and manufacturing location descriptions, the Lillo site includes an existing, two-lined HDPE plant equipped with INEOS’ proprietary Innovene S polyethylene technology that produces a combined 560,000 tonnes/year (tpy) of HDPE. A polypropylene (PP) plant at Lillo based W.R. Grace & Co.’s proprietary UNIPOL PP process technology has a production capacity of 110,000 tpy.