Antwerp The Antwerp chemicals. Two months after Ineos, a mega-investment came proposals of 3 billion euros, Tuesday, the new ‘cracker’ of refinery ExxonMobil inaugurated. The installation of a thick-billion euro produces low sulphur fuel that the shipping cleaner. That also supplies 70 permanent jobs.
commodity company ExxonMobil has opted for the change for an inauguration of the water. In this case: the Hansadok, aboard cruise boat Oceandiva. The new cracker is 4.5 years built. Kroonstuk is a 96 metres high tower, only a meter lower than the Boerentoren. Jan Michielsen, big boss of ExxonMobil for the Benelux and for 37 years in the business, relishing the moment. “
This is a milestone for our refinery. I am glad that we made this investment to Antwerp. So can we have the next generation of cleaner fuels for shipping will deliver. Very important, because from 2020, ship’s diesel is still only one-half percent sulfur. That is seven times less than today. I do not exclude that this installation already six football fields – in the coming years will expand.”
a Chemical has, unjustly, a bad name: it is precisely this sector which, thanks to innovation, the answers will be found on the climate challenge.
Bart De Wever
“Best jobs of our economy,”
Antwerp mayor Bart De Wever (N-VA) is known as a huge fan of the chemical sector. “The béste jobs of our economy. Many SMES owe their existence to. But as the energy goes, you hear a lot of threatening positions. Chemistry has undeservedly a bad name: it is precisely this sector which, thanks to innovation, the answers will be found on the climate challenge. Without the chemistry that does not work. I have to me now in my city almost apologize that we attract investment.”
in Addition to The Weaver, who, after the end of the press conference, a quick elevator got a water taxi, were also Flemish minister-president Geert Bourgeois (N-VA) and the federal minister Kris Peeters (CD&V) the importance of the new cracker in the paint. Bourgeois sees sustainable economic growth go hand in hand with a significant reduction of the CO2 emissions. Peeters calls for the development of a genuine European energy market. “That will provide companies and consumers benefit. The cost of energy is of vital importance.”
for 125 years in Antwerp
ExxonMobil (ex-Esso) has in Antwerp a history of 125 years. In 1953, the Us giant its Antwerp refinery. That has approximately 750 employees, half of the total number of employees in our country. Daily be in Antwerp around 320,000 barrels of oil produced.
the construction of the new cracker for low sulphur fuels worked an average of 1,600 people, up to 3,000 even at peak times. The total sulfur emissions from the refinery decreased by 75 percent. Also in the ‘capture’ and storage of CO2 is Exxon a world leader. “We have the ambition to eventually that stored CO2 (carbon dioxide, red.) to convert the carbon to reuse”, concludes ceo Michielsen.
