BASF says it is moving forward with the final phase of the expansion project for the methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) plant at its site in Geismar, Louisiana. With this third step of its multiphase capacity expansion, BASF reportedly will increase production capacity to 600,000 metric tons per year by the middle of the decade and support the ongoing growth of its North American MDI customers. The company kicked off the expansion project in 2018 with a staggered approach consisting of three investment phases. The investment in the final expansion phase from 2022 to 2025 amounts to $780 million, according to the company.
The first phase of the expansion project involving the construction of a new MDI synthesis unit was put in operation in October of 2020. The second phase, which started operations in 2021, expanded several existing upstream units. With the third and final expansion phase, which includes several new upstream units and a splitter, the new overall MDI output of the Geismar complex reportedly will increase to 600,000 metric tons.
Read the press release at www.basf.com.
