BASF Sonatrach PropanChem S.A. (BSP), a joint venture between Spain-based BASF Espa S.A. and
Algeria-based Sonatrach Petroleum Investment Corp., has begun trial operation of a propane
dehydrogenation (PDH) plant said to be the worlds largest at BASFs site in Tarragona, Spain.BSP
invested 240 million euros in the plants construction the largest single investment in the
Tarragona sites history and expects to create 70 jobs at the plant.The company chose the propane
dehydrogenation process as an economical option, because only propylene is needed at the site.This
is the first plant in Europe to operate using this innovative technology, said Jurgen Hartig,
Ph.D., chairman of the board at BSP.In the coming years, this process will become increasingly
important alongside the conventional steam cracker process for propylene.
June 2003
