L&T Powers Up Global Engineering: Delivers World’s Heaviest EO Reactor To BASF Plant In China

The Heavy Engineering division of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has successfully dispatched two massive Ethylene Oxide (EO) reactors for a project of the renowned chemical giant BASF in China.

Weighing 1,136 MT each, these are the world’s heaviest EO reactors based on BASF’s technology. The reactors have been manufactured by deploying hi-tech engineering, Industry 4.0 manufacturing technology and world-class quality processes.

These reactors are essential to the petrochemical project at the Verbund site in Zhanjiang, aiding the growth of China’s chemical market. The reactors were shipped from L&T’s A M Naik Heavy Engineering Complex in Hazira, Gujarat.

“I thank BASF for giving L&T the opportunity to supply the most critical reactors for its prestigious project. Dispatching the reactors is indeed a matter of great pride for us," Anil V Parab, Senior Executive Vice President, L&T Heavy Engineering & L&T Valves, said.

Ethylene oxide is an important ethylene-based intermediary compound. It is primarily used in the manufacture of derivatives such as ethylene glycol, surfactants and ethanolamines.

BASF is currently building a new Verbund site in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province. Announced in July 2018 and officially commenced in November 2019, the project will be BASF’s largest investment to date with around €10 billion upon completion.

In addition to Ludwigshafen, Germany, BASF operates Verbund sites in Antwerp, Belgium; Freeport, Texas; Geismar, Louisiana; Kuantan, Malaysia; and Nanjing, China.

To be operated solely by BASF, the Zhanjiang site will rank as the company’s third-largest Verbund site globally, following Ludwigshafen and Antwerp.

The concept of Verbund involves the seamless integration of production, market platforms, and technologies to unite various aspects of the business.

The new smart Verbund site at Zhanjiang will include a steam cracker with a capacity of 1 million metric tons of ethylene per year and downstream plants for consumer-oriented products.