Bayport Polymers Starts Up Commercial Olefin Operations

Start-up of commercial operations of a new 2.2 billion/lb ethane cracker that will be used to produce 2.2 billion/lbs of PE feedstock ethylene has commenced at Bayport Polymers LLC, Bayport, Texas. Known as  “Baystar”, this is the new 50/50 joint venture (JV) between Borealis and TotalEnergies.

The ethylene produced by the cracker will be used as feedstock to supply Baystar’s existing PE units, as well as a new Borstar technology PE unit currently under construction in Bayport, Texas. Start-up of the new ethane cracker is an important milestone for Baystar becoming a fully integrated PE company, with a focus on growing the polymers market in North America and leveraging the power of partnerships. The Baystar JV is the translation of the growth ambitions of Borealis and TotalEnergies in the United States and includes:

 ▪  The Baystar site in Bayport, Pasadena, Texas – with a 881.8 million lb/yr PE capacity.

 ▪  The 2.2-billion lb/yr ethane cracker at the TotalEnergies Port Arthur Refinery, which now has successfully started operations.

 ▪  The under-construction 1.3-billion lb/yr PE unit in Bayport, using the Borealis proprietary Borstar technology to deliver a broad range of products to help meet the growing global demand for plastic products. The Borstar process offers simultaneous improvements in production flexibility and environmental performance such as high energy efficiency. Furthermore, Borstar products excel in sustainability, for example through light-weighting and by enabling incorporation of more than 50% post-consumer recycled materials in some end products. 

Said Borealis CEO, Thomas Gangl, “I am excited to see the start-up of this new ethane cracker, an important milestone for us as we are expanding our global footprint through Baystar. We are pleased to bring Borealis’ proprietary Borstar technology to North America for the first time, allowing Baystar to produce enhanced polyethylene products for the most demanding applications.”