Total has announced plans to spend $211 million before 2016 on upgrades for its petrochemical platform in Carling, in the Lorraine region of easter France.
“Total plans indeed to develop new activities on the platform in the growing markets for hydrocarbon resins (Cray Valley) and for polymers, while shutting down the acutely loss-making steam cracker in the second half of 2015,” the company said in a statement. “In this way, Carling will become a leading European center in the hydrocarbon resins and polymers market,” it continued.
“Total has a project for the future of the Carling petrochemical platform and the surrounding region,” explains Patrick Pouyanné, President Refining & Chemicals and member of the Executive Committee of Total.
“The European petrochemicals market is facing continued overcapacity and growing international competition. In such context, it is our industrial responsibility to anticipate and adapt our production capacities to demand. Our project for Carling will leverage the platform’s strengths, its industrial capabilities and the expertise of its teams in order to develop a profitable production facility. By making Carling the European center for the hydrocarbon resin business and a leading European polymers plant as part of an extensive investment plan, we are confirming our willingness to maintain sustainable industrial activities in France while investing in promising markets. Total is bringing a new ambition to Carling.”
