Chevron Phillips Chemical Completes Low-Viscosity PAO Expansion in Belgium

Chevron Phillips Chemical (CPChem) has officially commissioned the low-viscosity polyalphaolefin (LV PAO) capacity expansion at its Beringen production facility in Belgium. This strategic investment has doubled the plant's LV PAO production capacity to 120,000 metric tons per annum, establishing it as Europe's largest decene-based LV PAO manufacturing site.

Antoine Janssens, General Manager for Europe, Middle East and Africa, stated: "The Beringen facility has built an outstanding reputation for operational excellence and technological innovation in PAO production. This expansion not only enhances asset integration but also reinforces CPChem's global leadership in specialty chemicals." As a critical component of high-performance synthetic base stocks, LV PAO finds extensive applications in automotive and industrial lubricants, with growing demand from emerging technologies including electric vehicle drivetrains, wind turbine systems, and data center immersion cooling solutions.

Frank Derudder, PAO/NAO Manager for EMEA, emphasized: "This capacity increase strategically addresses the rising global demand for advanced synthetic materials while maintaining our industry-leading quality standards." Notably, the project incorporates cutting-edge electrification technologies that significantly reduce natural gas consumption and carbon emissions, while providing the infrastructure for future renewable energy integration.

Strategically located in the heart of Europe, the Beringen production complex leverages its geographic advantages, skilled workforce, robust supply chain infrastructure, and proximity to both feedstock sources and key markets to deliver sustainable, high-quality chemical solutions to global customers.