BASF (Ludwigshafen / Germany; www.basf.com) is to incrementally increase capacity at its MDI production facilities at its Verbund site in Geismar, Louisiana / USA from 300,000 t/y to around 600,000 t/y. The existing infrastructure at the site, combined with the competitive raw materials based on shale gas, make it ideally suited for the investment, the company said. Construction of the unit is expected to commence in mid-2018, with commissioning due sometime in 2020.

The company has begun engineering for the project. Stefano Pigozzi, president of BASF’s Monomers division, said: “In subsequent steps, which will be implemented in alignment with business development, the MDI precursor units in Geismar will be expanded accordingly. The usage of latest proprietary technologies will ensure best-in-class productivity and energy efficiency.”