Olefins and polyolefins group Borealis (Vienna; www.borealisgroup.com) is investing around EUR 200 mn to upgrade and expand its cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) and semi-conductive assets at existing European production facilities to ensure availability of high-quality compounds for the wire and cable market.

The initiative focuses on its PEX plant in Stenungsund, Sweden and the semiconductor compounds facility in Antwerp, Belgium.

Borealis seeks to be a reliable supplier of high-quality insulation and semi-conductive materials, particularly those required for the global offshore wind and interconnector projects.

Borealis’ announcement comes after petrochemical firm Repsol (Madrid; www.repsol.com) recently disclosed plans to build an PEX facility at its domestic site in Tarragona (see Plasteurope.com of 20.06.2022).

Borealis is also eyeing the growing demand for fibre optic and power cable jacketing in North, Central and South America by setting up a joint venture with France’s TotalEnergies (Paris; www.totalenergies.com) to construct a facility that will bring its so-called “Borstar” 3G technology to the American PE market.

An investment study to evaluate expansion of capacity by 10,000 tonnes/year at the US PEX facility in New Jersey is nearing completion, Borealis said.

In Asia, Borealis’ activities in the C&W market are covered by its acquisition of a controlling stake in South Korean compounder DYM Solution (see Plasteurope.com of 08.09.2020 and 31.10.2018).