Borealis (Vienna / Austria; www.borealisgroup.com) plans to invest EUR 46m to improve its production of n-butenes and phenol at two European sites. The company said it will invest EUR 21m in Stenungsund / Sweden on a C4 project to allow improved n-butene production, and another EUR 25m to replace a 30 year-old hot oil heater unit at its phenol complex in Porvoo / Finland.

The Stengungsund C4 project involves upgrading the facility’s existing raffinate-1 and raffinate-2 streams to meet required product specifications for the delivery of n-butenes. Borealis said the project, which is scheduled for completion by March 2015, is part of plans to support customers’ raw material demand for expanding production of olefins-based products. The project contracting process began in December 2012.

At Porvoo, Borealis said the installation of the new heater will help improve efficiency and site integration. The project, scheduled for 2015, will reduce maintenance requirements and carbon dioxide emissions and ensure continuous, reliable and cost-competitive operations, it added.

“These investments indicate our on-going commitment to support our customers despite the present difficult market environment in Europe,” said Borealis CEO Mark Garrett. The projects indicate the company’s commitment to European locations and make an important contribution to the base chemicals business, he added. Khadem Al Qubaisi, chairman of the supervisory board, stated: “The supervisory board’s approval of these two investments underlines their support for Borealis’ strategy to have one of the youngest fleets in Europe.”