Antwerp Platform Evolves to Tackle Energy Transition and Shifting Market Demands
A major industrial hub for TotalEnergies for more than 75 years, the Antwerp platform—known for its integrated and resilient operations—is reviewing upcoming investments and has unveiled a plan to adapt its petrochemical operations to enhance competitiveness.
“Our regular adaptations and investments in the Antwerp platform ensure its long-term future and continue to make this integrated refining-petrochemical site TotalEnergies’ most efficient in Europe. Whether to contribute to decarbonization and the energy transition, or to face market challenges, the platform knows how to adapt its industrial plan to remain competitive and maintain future jobs,” said Ann Veraverbeke, Director of the Antwerp platform of TotalEnergies.
Adaptations for the decarbonization of the site and transport
Thanks to green hydrogen, the Antwerp platform is accelerating its decarbonization. As part of a 200 MW Air Liquide electrolyzer project, TotalEnergies has signed a tolling agreement for 130 MW to be dedicated to the production of 15,000 tons per year of green hydrogen for their platform. Upstream of the electrolyzer, TotalEnergies will supply green electricity through its OranjeWind offshore wind project. Scheduled for completion by the end of 2027, the project will reduce CO2 emissions from their site by up to 150,000 tons per year and contribute to the European (RED III) renewable energy targets for transport.
By producing sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), the Antwerp platform will contribute to the energy transition of its aviation customers who need to reduce their carbon footprint. A first coprocessing production project of 50,000 tons of SAF per year will be implemented this year at their platform. Coprocessing, which is one of the SAF production processes, allows for the simultaneous processing of hydrocarbons and biomass in a conventional refining unit.
Thanks to the electrification of its processes and battery storage, the Antwerp platform contributes respectively to the decarbonization of its industrial activities and to the growing need to balance the Belgian and European high-voltage electricity transmission network. Commissioned last year, this battery storage park, TotalEnergies‘ largest in Europe (power of 25 MW and capacity of 75 MWh), compensates for the intermittency of renewable energies and therefore promotes their development.
Adapting to market developments and overcapacity in the petrochemical industry
Alongside these future developments, the platform is also facing significant overcapacity in the petrochemical market. Given the significant excess ethylene expected in Europe, the platform plans to shut down its oldest steam cracker by the end of 2027.
Indeed, the latter was historically dependent on a major contract with a third-party user of the ethylene produced, which recently decided not to renew it when it expires at the end of 2027. As a result, the steam cracker, which is not integrated into TotalEnergies’ downstream polymer production, will no longer have any outlets for its ethylene production.
This shutdown will allow the site to focus on its most recent steam cracker, the ethylene production of which is entirely consumed by TotalEnergies’ industrial units in Antwerp and Feluy.
This industrial adaptation will be carried out by providing each employee with a solution adapted to their situation, without any layoffs for the 253 people concerned, thanks to internal mobility within the Antwerp platform and retirements. This project is subject to the legal information-consultation process of the employee representative bodies of the Antwerp platform, with which TotalEnergies will therefore initiate a consultation starting at the end of April.
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