Antwerp Refinery

With ongoing investments, ExxonMobil ensures that the installations on the refinery site remain modern and efficient and that the refinery retains its competitiveness. Since 2008 alone, two billion dollars have been invested in the refinery to make it one of the most modern and energy-efficient of its kind.
Read more about the Antwerp refinery :
Antwerp refinery | ExxonMobil Benelux

Antwerp & Meerhout Polymers plants

The Meerhout Polymers Plant is the largest LDPE manufacturer in Europe and it supplies products to numerous industries. The plant is organisationally twinned with the Antwerp Polymers Plant in Zwijndrecht, which produces special types of polyethylene.
In collaboration with the European Technology Centre in Brussels, the two polymers plants work constantly on improving their products to stay abreast of current trends. Packaging foils are becoming increasingly stronger, thinner and more sustainable. For the production of some ultra-thin foil, less and less material is needed, which has led to reductions in transport operations and waste.
Read more about the Antwerp and Meerhout Polymers plant :
Meerhout polymers plant | ExxxonMobil Benelux (exxonmobil.be)
Antwerp polymers plant | ExxonMobil Benelux

Polyethylene plant in Meerhout

The Meerhout Polymers Plant is the largest LDPE manufacturer in Europe and it supplies products to numerous industries. The plant is organisationally twinned with the Zwijndrecht Polymers Plant, which produces special types of polyethylene in relatively small volumes.

The plant receives its main raw material, ethylene gas, via a pipeline from the storage tank at the refinery complex.

The gas is converted into polyethylene in high-pressure tube reactors. During the production process, the pressure in the reactors can rise up to 3000 bar. The gas is then heated to 200 degrees Celsius. The end product is separated from the non-polymerised ethylene gas at atmospheric pressure. The molten polyethylene is subsequently cooled and exits the process as plastic pellets with a diameter of two millimetres.

The polymers plants' products are used to make, for example, (food) packaging and plastic carrier bags. Because polyethylene is manufactured in a closed system, the production process is fairly environmentally friendly.

Increasingly more sustainable
In collaboration with the European Technology Centre in Brussels, the two polymers plants work constantly on improving their products to stay abreast of current trends. Packaging foils are becoming increasingly stronger, thinner and more sustainable. For the production of – some ultra-thin – foil less and less material is needed, which has led to reductions in transport operations and waste. High-quality plastic packaging plays an important role in extending the shelf-life of perishable food and preventing spoilage.

Refinery (Rotterdam)

The Rotterdam refinery is one of the most modern and environmentally friendly of its kind. Since being put into operation in 1960, the plant has undergone several renovations. The sizeable capital investments through the years have made the refinery ultra-efficient.

The refinery processes different grades of crude oil varying from light low-sulphur to heavy high-sulphur oil. The crude oil is supplied by ship and stored at the tank farms on the Maasvlakte and in Europoort. It is transported from the tank farms to the refinery via pipelines where it is processed into a range of products, such as LPG, kerosene and diesel. Thanks to the Flexicoker unit, the refinery has not produced any heavy fuel oil since the 1980s.

Hydrocracker expansion
In 2016, the expansion of the hydrocracker was started. The project involved an investment of over a billion dollars. From now on, the new installation will enable the refinery to produce high-quality base oils for a new generation of lubricants.

Energy efficient
The refinery has its own cogeneration unit (Cogen), which utilises low-calorie gas from the Flexicoker to produce electricity and steam. As a result, emissions of SOx and NOx, dust and aromatics are significantly lower than they are at other refineries. The Cogen provides most of the energy needs of the refinery complex. The new hydrocracker has increased the refinery's energy efficiency by five per cent.

Greater efficiency through integration
The refinery is almost completely integrated with the neighbouring aromatics plant. The refinery supplies the basic raw materials to the aromatics plant, which, in turn, sends by-products back to the refinery for further processing. Since 2011, the refinery has also been integrated with Air Products' ultra-modern hydrogen plant, which is situated on the same site. The hydrogen plant uses residual heat and gases from the refinery. The refinery uses the hydrogen to desulphurise oil and to be able to produce cleaner fuels. The hydrogen plant also supplies steam to the refinery. The integration of different plants has helped optimise energy efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions.

Rotterdam Plasticizers & Intermediates Plant

Officially called the Rotterdam Plasticizers & Intermediates Plant, the Rotterdam Oxo-alcohols Plant actually comprises three production facilities: the Rotterdam Oxo-Alcohol Plant in Europoort, the Phthalic Anhydride Plant and the Rotterdam Plasticizer Plant, which are both located in Rotterdam Botlek. It is the largest producer of plasticizers in Europe.

The three facilities of the Rotterdam Plasticizers & Intermediates Plant are closely integrated together and with the refinery. The fact that they are so far apart is the result of the various takeovers and acquisitions that have taken place in ExxonMobil's history. In terms of production, the facilities form a logical whole: oxo-alcohols and phthalic anhydride are both raw materials for plasticizers.

Plasticizers make 'hard' plastic soft and pliable. They are used to make products such as cables, textiles, wallpapering, carpeting, furniture and footwear flexible.

Efficient transport
The raw materials for oxo-alcohols are supplied by ship. Thanks to investments made in 2016 in, for example, better loading facilities, the raw materials can be supplied by larger ships and the number of sea transport operations has been halved. This has contributed to improving the plant's efficiency and environmental performance.

The impact of ExxonMobil on the economy and the community of Antwerp

ExxonMobil has been present in Antwerp since 1891. A presence that resonates in different domains. First of all, by creating direct employment and economic added value. But the effect of our presence goes much further. Our investments lead to new opportunities for small and large entrepreneurs, contribute to local projects for the community and result in strong cooperation with our partners.

Every year, we spend an average of 1.3 billion euro in large and small businesses. This means that other companies and entrepreneurs can also grow. Not only contractors and technical suppliers, but also companies that provide in-house services such as security and catering, as well as start-up self-employment such as a coffee supplier.

ExxonMobil thinks it is important to be an active partner in the environment, nature and society. Delivering a sustainable contribution to the environment of our employees is high on the agenda. That's why we support organization “Natuurpunt”, who conserve nature in our (industrial) environment.

With our partners we work together in the fields of education, safety and innovation. Every year, we organize the Sci-Tech Challenge that challenges students to find innovative solutions around current problems. This way, we hope to win young people over for technology and science. In addition, we support the “Tutoriaatproject” of the University of Antwerp and the Provincial Security Institute, which trains prevention consultants.

As part of the future, we take our responsibilities seriously by investing in innovation and our environment. All these activities are ultimately aimed at a sustainable anchoring, in which we continue to create opportunities for Antwerp and its inhabitants!

The impact of ExxonMobil on the economy and the inhabitants of Rotterdam

ExxonMobil has been present in Rotterdam since 1891, which has an impact on Rotterdam, the city and its inhabitants. First of all, by creating direct employment and economic added value. But the impact goes much further. Our presence offers jobs also indirectly, through contractors who work for and with us. It contributes to local projects for the community and results in strong cooperation with partners. Take the local bakery, the florist, or the people in the company restaurant or security.

Every year, we spend an average of 1.2 billion euro in large and small businesses, which means that we let businesses and entrepreneurs grow. Companies that provide in-house services, such as catering and security, as well as local entrepreneurs like the bakery or florist.

We are part of our environment, nature and society. Delivering a sustainable contribution to the environment of our employees is high on the agenda. We support “Spijkenisse Festival”, “Jeugdstad Vlaardingen”, and “Speelnatuur”, a nature playground of “Natuurmonumenten” on the island ‘Tiengemeten’ in the Rotterdam area, where children can play with dirt and playfully discover nature.

With our partners we work together in the fields of education, safety and innovation. Every year, we organize the Sci-Tech Challenge that challenges students to find innovative solutions around current problems. This way, we hope to win young people over for technology and science. In addition, we support the Educational Information Centre in Rozenburg, where pupils see and experience the port of Rotterdam and can discover the many possibilities to work there.

We are part of the future and take our responsibility seriously, by investing in innovation and our environment. Whether it concerns employment, cooperation, or supporting local initiatives, the activities of ExxonMobil are ultimately aimed at a sustainable anchoring, in which we continue to create opportunities for the Rotterdam region and its inhabitants!

Gerardo van den Hout - Process engineer

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