02-06-2022

Linde Engineering to extend Slovnaft’s polypropylene capacity in Slovakia

Linde Engineering today announced it has been selected by Slovnaft, a member of the MOL Group, a leading integrated Central Eastern European oil and gas corporation, to conduct a complex large-scale revamp of a polypropylene (PP3) plant in Bratislava, Slovakia.

The revamp will extend the plant’s capacity by 18 percent to 300 kilotons of polypropylene per year, and the storage facility will be expanded from the current 45 to 61 silos in total. The revamped plant has been designed to offer a higher degree of operational flexibility by producing multiple product grades and utilizing intermediate storage to ensure just-in-time production. Furthermore, the project will incorporate environmental measures to capture waste gas streams in compliance with local regulations.

“The revamp will enable Slovnaft to meet rising demands from the polyolefin processing industry. The project is challenging given its complexity: Interdependency with other process facilities allows only a narrow time frame for a shutdown. With our proven expertise and best-in-class services, we will be able to complete all installation works, including construction, commissioning and testing,” said Juergen Nowicki, CEO Linde Engineering.

Several studies performed by Linde Engineering between 2016 and 2020 laid the foundation for Slovnaft’s investment decision. “One of the goals of our updated 2030+ strategy is to reduce the production of fossil fuels and strengthen the production of basic plastics. Linde Engineering is our reliable partner. Less than 20 years ago, the company built the PP3 polypropylene production unit in Slovnaft and now it will renovate and modernize it,” said Gabriel Szabó, Executive Vice President of Downstream at MOL Group.